Doctors Discover First-Ever Live Worm Found in a Human Brain: A Historic Medical Case in Australia

In 2021, doctors in Australia made a medical discovery so shocking that it sounded almost unbelievable: they removed a live, wriggling worm from a woman’s brain — the first documented case in human history. The findings were later published in the prestigious journal The Lancet Infectious Diseases, confirming the case as a world-first and highlighting the importance of understanding emerging zoonotic infections.
(Sources: The Lancet Infectious Diseases, BBC News, CNN Health)

Months of Mysterious Symptoms Before the Discovery

The patient, a 64-year-old woman from New South Wales, had been experiencing a series of unexplained symptoms for more than a year. These included:

• Memory loss

• Depression

• Persistent fatigue

• Abdominal discomfort

• Chronic coughing

As her health continued to decline, doctors ordered a detailed brain scan, which revealed an unusual lesion. What they found next stunned even experienced specialists.

The 8 cm Parasite Found Moving Inside Her Brain

During surgery, neurosurgeon Dr. Hari Priya Bandi made a historic discovery: an 8-centimeter (3-inch) live parasitic worm actively moving inside the patient’s brain tissue. This parasite was later identified as Ophidascaris robertsi, a roundworm species that typically infects carpet pythons, not humans.
(Sources: The Guardian, BBC News, Australian National University)

This unusual finding raised immediate questions about how a parasite normally restricted to reptiles could infect a human being.

How Did the Infection Happen?

Medical experts believe the woman became infected after collecting and eating wild leafy greens, which may have been contaminated with python feces containing the parasite’s eggs. Once consumed, the eggs hatched into larvae inside her body.

From there, the larvae traveled through various organs, eventually reaching the brain, where they triggered inflammation, neurological problems, and the worsening symptoms she experienced for months.
(Source: CNN Health)

This case serves as a powerful example of how human contact with wildlife — especially in environments where animals shed infectious material — can sometimes lead to rare and unexpected cross-species infections.

A Medical First with Global Significance

This is the first recorded instance of Ophidascaris robertsi infecting a human brain. The discovery has opened new discussions among scientists and infectious disease experts about:

• How environmental changes can shift parasite behavior

• How increased human-wildlife interactions raise infection risks

• The likelihood of more rare or emerging zoonotic diseases in the future

Researchers warn that as ecosystems evolve and humans encroach on wildlife habitats, unusual parasitic infections could become more frequent — making surveillance and early diagnosis crucial.

The Woman’s Recovery and a Cautionary Lesson

Fortunately, the patient survived the ordeal and is currently recovering following surgery and medical treatment. Doctors continue to monitor her condition, but removing the worm prevented further damage and may have saved her life.

Her story is a sobering reminder of the delicate relationship between humans, animals, and the environment. Even the smallest organism — like a worm barely a few inches long — has the power to disrupt a life completely.

This extraordinary case reinforces the importance of public health awareness, environmental hygiene, and scientific vigilance in a rapidly changing world.