A parasitic disease known as Chagas, transmitted by ‘kissing bugs,’ is spreading in the United States, with health officials confirming human cases across eight states, including California, Arizona, Texas, Louisiana, and Florida. This disease, previously common in South America, now poses health risks in the Southern U.S., with potential for severe heart and digestive complications in chronic cases. Health officials emphasize the need for increased awareness, research, and better public health measures to combat its spread. According to a new study published in the CDC journal Emerging Infectious Diseases, researchers state that human cases of Chagas disease have been confirmed in eight states, leading them to recommend that the disease is classified as ‘endemic.’ The term ‘endemic’ means the disease is constantly present in a population within a specific geographic area, indicating a baseline level of disease within a community. This classification is crucial for achieving global health goals, as per the authors.
Chagas disease is a parasitic illness spread by triatomine bugs, also known as ‘kissing bugs,’ according to the CDC. These bugs transmit the disease when their feces, infected with the T. cruzi parasite, enter a person’s body, typically through a bite wound or contact with the eyes or mouth. Dr. Marc Siegel, a senior medical analyst for Fox News, explained that the disease is already endemic in South America and Central America but has now spread to the Southern U.S., where it is taking hold among insects and animals. He emphasized the importance of recognizing the disease as endemic to effectively address its health and public health implications.
Experts like Dr. Norman Beatty, lead study author and assistant professor of medicine at the University of Florida College of Medicine, have highlighted the challenges in diagnosing and treating Chagas disease in the U.S. Beatty noted that the disease is more likely to occur in states where the kissing bug is found close to where people live. However, most of the United States remains unaware of this ‘silent killer.’ He emphasized the need to recognize the disease as an endemic infectious disease, improve public and healthcare provider education, and allocate funding for research and programs to support testing and additional monitoring. The first stage of Chagas disease, called the acute phase, happens shortly after infection, and it is followed by a longer-term chronic phase, which can lead to serious health complications.
Approximately 300,000 people are living with Chagas disease who acquired the infection in Latin America and the U.S., according to Beatty. However, the exact number is unknown due to the lack of a national prevalence study. Beatty also shared prevention tips, including removing ‘harborages’ of nesting animals near homes, sealing entry points, and using residual pesticide spraying near potential entry points. The article also mentions other related health concerns, such as the rise in cases of Valley fever and dengue fever in popular vacation destinations, highlighting the increasing health challenges faced by communities in the U.S. As awareness and research on Chagas disease grow, health officials hope to mitigate its spread and improve outcomes for those affected.