Random statements that make a bigger picture.

To the best of my understanding. Diseases like hookworm and tetanus also thrive in warmer, moister soils. You're more likely to encounter them in the Southern U.S.

Hookworm (and I think roundworm too) are relatively asymptomatic. You're not gonna go to the doctor if you don't think anything is wrong. Additionally, if you get the inkling that something might be wrong, but don't have anything concrete, there's not much of a chance the doctor is gonna nail your problem on the first shot.

Speaking of doctors, I don't even wanna ask how much a fecal test or a blood test is without good insurance. Lord knows even with good insurance it's a butt ton. Ditto on any follow up treatment if it's determined that someone does have worms.

Good health hygiene seems to be a rare thing in general. The number of people I know that don't wash their hands before eating kind of astonishes me. I know two people who do walk barefoot everywhere they go and I have told them "That's literally a way to catch worms" and they don't care. From what I understand, health education is getting to be pretty thin these days and that's not just sex education.

Worms are normal and treatable as shit. There's a stigma attached to worms though. There's a good chance that someone reading this has run into at least one person who has contracted and been treated for a worm of some sort or another. No that they'll ever know, cause seriously, if you ever caught some, would you ever bring that up in normal conversation?