In a remarkable medical discovery, researchers have reported the unprecedented case of an 8cm (3in) worm found alive in the brain of a 64-year-old Australian woman, marking the world’s first occurrence of such an incident.

According to The BBC, the woman had experienced symptoms including stomach pain, coughing, night sweats, forgetfulness, and depression over several months.

Hospitalization in January 2021 led to the identification of an unusual lesion in her right frontal lobe.

However, it wasn’t until a biopsy in June 2022 that the cause of her condition was revealed.

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Dr. Hari Priya Bandi, the operating surgeon, described extracting a “string-like structure” from the damaged frontal lobe during a surgery in Canberra.

This discovery, detailed in the Emerging Infectious Diseases journal, presents the first recorded instance of larval invasion and development within the human brain.

The doctor speculates that the parasite may have inhabited her brain for around two months. The woman, residing near a lake area in southeastern New South Wales state, is reportedly recovering well.

Dr. Bandi recounted her shock at encountering the living worm within the brain, which she successfully removed during surgery.