Free Republic

There was a time when Renaldo Ramirez, of Houston, didn't like to cook. The 50-year-old ate most of his meals at mobile kitchens until he found out food contaminated with tapeworm eggs almost killed him. "He's scared now. He's scared of any food from outside," Ramirez said through his sister who interpreted for him. Ramirez is a tile worker who immigrated to the U.S. from El Salvador 20 years ago. "It was a mild headache, but it wouldn't go away," he said. "It was just there and it wouldn't go away with Tylenol." Doctors at a clinic gave him medicine...

A potentially fatal disease rarely seen here has popped up in Houston four times in the past two months. It's linked to tapeworms and their eggs. He ate at mobile kitchens until he found out food contaminated with eggs from a tapeworm almost killed him. "He's scared now. He's scared of any food from outside," said Marjorie, his daughter & translator. The tile worker immigrated from El Salvador 20 years ago said early symptoms were subtle. "It was a mild headache but it wouldn't go away," Marjorie explained. "It was just there and it wouldn't go away with Tylenol." Doctors...