September 6
Tokyo - Long confined to the mountains, Japanese leeches are invading residential areas, causing swelling, itching and general discomfort with their blood-thirsty ways.

Yamabiru, or land leeches, have become a problem in 29 of Japan's 47 prefectures.

The little suckers are riding into towns and villages, hitching lifts on deer and boar whose numbers have grown due to re-forestation and dwindling rural populations.

Once there, the leeches, which measure about 1,5cm before a meal, take to feasting on warm human flesh.

"Yamabiru will climb into people's socks and stay for about an hour, growing five to 10 times in size. Unlike with water leeches, people don't immediately realise they've been bitten. Only later when they see their bloodsoaked feet, do they realise what has happened.

The real problem is that the bleeding won't stop and the affected area swells up and really itches.
go

And to think they used to use leeches in the 1800s to "bleed" ill people of diseases

The Japanese should be as healthy as can be

ewww.. Yuck leeches. They use them in modern medicine when they reattach fingers and limbs to restart blood flow.

What, you mean they still use them to this day for various things?

yep! and maggots to i think they have been using them for a few years now and yes they really do help people. heres a link....


http://www.scienceinafrica.co.za/2003/july/leech.htm

I say they deserve it..... Japan is one of the nations that are bringing marine mammals and bigger fish into extintion, they are doing massive killing off dolphins, sharks, and whales. They should reconsider on this and try to keep a balance not barbaric massive killings.

I say LET THE LEECHES COME!

Argh, I hate leeches. Blood sucking little ********s. A little advice I got from a friend is, don't do something like punch a hole in them or they'll keep drinking.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070906/od_uk_...k_japan_leeches



Teriyaki leeches!!! could be a solution????

I can see them adding leeches to their sushe menu...lol