HI HB474

Appropriates $450,000 from general revenues to the University of Hawaii at Hilo for fiscal year 2018-2019 for rat lungworm disease prevention and eradication programs.

Funds laboratory testing of deworming treatments for rats, produce washes, water filtration systems, and development of blood-based diagnostic tests for rat lungworm.

Requires development of clinical guidelines on rat lungworm risk factors, diagnosis, treatment, and long-term consequences.

Mandates a case study on individuals who contracted rat lungworm disease through kava ingestion and research comparing Hawaii cases with worldwide case studies.

Appropriation must be matched dollar-for-dollar by private sources and federal research grants; takes effect July 1, 2018.