First killer bees, now killer snails? Apparently so. Federal health officials confirmed that five snails unwittingly brought into a Milwaukee elementary school are Giant African Land Snails, snails feared for their ability to transmit meningitis through their slimy mucous.
The snails are called giant for a reason-each one can grow to the size of an adult's hand. Native to Africa and Asia, the snails reproduce rapidly and eat up to 500 different species of plants.
They have been also found in the Wisconsin towns of Big Bend and Menasha in the past month. Officials believe they were smuggled into this country.
The Milwaukee children brought the snails to school for show-and-tell, but teachers alerted authorities when they realized the snails were illegal.
Officials are now conducting a nationwide search for additional snails. If the snails reach states with warmer climates, they can threaten cash crops and take years to be eradicated.
-CNN.com contributed to this report
