Chagas Disease

The deadly blood-sucking "kissing bug" has spread to Southern California.

San Diego County reported its first locally acquired case of Chagas disease on Monday.

The bug, officially called triatomines, spreads "flu-like illness with fever, headache, cough, abdominal pain or swelling at the bite site."

Chagas can also spread to infants during pregnancy, as well as cause serious heart and gastrointestinal complications in those infected years later.

San Diego officials note the disease is usuall

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Chagas disease, referred to as a silent killer, is reportedly expanding its presence into homes and kennels across the United States. This signals a growing, serious threat that may often go undiagnosed until advanced stages, requiring immediate public awareness and preventative action.

'Kissing bug' disease, which can lead to severe and chronic health complications (Chagas disease), has been declared endemic in the Southern United States. This indicates the disease is now consistently present in the region, posing an ongoing threat to residents. Public awareness and proactive measures are crucial for prevention and early detection.

'Chagas disease, which can be deadly, is now considered endemic in the U.S.' UCLA Health, Sept. 2, 2025. Edit. - Infectious Diseases

Spread by the 'kissing bug,' the disease can cause heart failure and cardiac arrest. 🧡

Chagas disease, a potentially deadly condition transmitted by an insec...

Source: Democratic Underground - Read Full Article

Deadly 'kissing bug' disease -- or Chagas -- is now endemic in US, researchers say

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said Chagas disease, also called kissing bug disease, is now endemic in the United States -- meaning cases are high enough to be considered a regularly occurring disease.

Since 2013, Texas A&M University has received reports of about 10,000 kissing...

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CDC warns of 'kissing bug' disease spread in the United States - UPI.com

Chagas disease -- a potentially serious illness spread by an insect called the "kissing bug" -- may be establishing itself in the United States, according to a new U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report.

The disease is common in 21 countries in the Americas, but growing evidence sug...

Source: UPI - Read Full Article

Chagas disease remains endemic in Brazil, transmitted through triatomine vectors, foodborne (oral) routes, congenital infection, and, less frequently, transfusion or transplantation. It affects both rural and increasingly urban areas. Foodborne (oral) Chagas periodically causes outbreaks linked to contaminated artisanal products—such as açaí, bacaba, and sugarcane juice—and is associated with higher parasite loads and more severe acute illness.

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Deadly 'kissing bug' disease considered an endemic in US; vulnerable states, early symptoms, risk factors, and prevention tips

A hidden danger has quietly made its way across the United States: the deadly "kissing bug" disease, also known as Chagas disease. Once thought to be a problem confined to parts of Latin America, this parasitic illness is now being transmitted locally in 32 US states, earning it an endemic status in...

Source: The Times of India - Read Full Article

Oct. 1, 2025 -- If you recently learned about "kissing bug" disease, you're not alone. The parasitic infection -- which is actually called Chagas disease but earned the nickname because it's spread by so-called kissing bugs, or triatomine bugs -- drew public attention recently after a new CDC repor... Source: WebMD - Read Full Article

Chagas disease, previously prevalent mainly in Latin America, is now increasingly occurring in the US. The "kissing bug" passes on a parasite that can cause life-threatening damage to the heart and nerves.

US health authorities are on alert as cases of Chagas disease, originating from South America...

Source: Deutsche Welle - Read Full Article