A 70 cm monkey tapeworm, the longest recorded globally, was found in a 10-year-old boy in Kurunegala, Sri Lanka.

The Medical Research Institute (MRI) confirmed it belongs to the Bertiella genus. 

Experts say infection occurs when children consume fruits or touch soil contaminated with monkey faeces carrying tapeworm eggs. 

Symptoms include stomach pain, diarrhoea, and fatigue. 

Parents are urged to ensure children wash hands, trim nails, and clean fruits thoroughly to prevent infection.