Chinese Doctors Remove 18-Centimeter Live Parasite from Man’s Brain

Doctors in Hunan province, China, successfully removed a live parasite measuring 18 centimeters from a man’s brain. The rare and alarming case, reported by Mothership, has highlighted the dangers of consuming raw animal organs and the severity of parasitic brain infections. The patient’s health began to decline in April 2024, when he complained of strange visual symptoms, including floating spots and the sensation of a foreign object in his eyes. An ophthalmological exam found nothing unusual, but MRI scans revealed abnormal patterns in the brain. At the time, the man declined surgical intervention. In late July 2025, his condition suddenly worsened — he suffered seizures, fainting spells, foaming at the mouth, and convulsions. Doctors then carried out emergency surgery, where they discovered and extracted a live Spirometra tapeworm from inside his skull. After ten days of intensive care, the man was released from the hospital in stable condition.