Chagas disease, spread by triatomine bugs, also known as kissing bugs, is affecting people in at least eight US states, according to a new report. The disease, which can cause serious heart and digestive problems, is often overlooked due to low awareness among the public and even medical professionals.
The report, published in the CDC’s Emerging Infectious Diseases journal, argues that the United States should treat Chagas as an endemic disease. Dr Norman Beatty, an associate professor at the University of Florida College of Medicine and co-author of the report, said that many Americans are unaware that the disease exists within the country. “We need to add kissing bugs to this list” of vector-borne illnesses, he said, alongside those spread by mosquitoes and ticks.
Chagas is caused by a parasite transmitted through the droppings of kissing bugs. Infection can occur when the droppings enter the body through a cut or via the eyes or mouth. While some people experience no symptoms initially, about 20 to 30% of those infected develop chronic issues later in life, such as an enlarged heart, heart failure, or problems with the oesophagus or colon.
The CDC estimates that around 280,000 people in the United States have the disease, with about 8 million cases worldwide. Despite this, a 2010 survey found that 19% of infectious disease doctors had never heard of Chagas, and 27% were not confident in their knowledge of it. Dr Bernardo Moreno Peniche, another co-author, noted that many physicians mistakenly believe Chagas does not exist in the US.
One case highlighted in the report involves a Miami teenager, Luna, who discovered she had Chagas after donating blood. Her mother, Valerie, said they had never heard of the disease before receiving the diagnosis. “If you get a letter that tells you, you have blood cancer, you know what it is. But when you receive a letter and you hear: ‘Oh, your daughter has Chagas,’ … you’re like, ‘Oh, what is this?’” she said.
Beatty hopes that declaring Chagas endemic will improve screening and public awareness. “We have the infrastructure to start screening people who have had exposure to these bugs,” he said. The disease is not new to the US; the 1,200-year-old remains of a man in south Texas showed evidence of Chagas, suggesting it has been present for centuries.
