Blood-sucking “kissing bugs” have now spread a dangerous parasite across 32 states in the US, according to the CDC. It’s estimated that hundreds of thousands may already be infected with Chagas disease without even realizing it.
Between 2000 and 2018, only 29 confirmed cases were documented in the US. The CDC is now pushing for the disease to be classified as endemic in the country, aiming to raise awareness and facilitate timely treatment for those affected.
“Most individuals with Chagas disease don’t know they have it, often until effective treatment is no longer an option,” cautions infectious disease epidemiologist Judith Currier from UCLA.
Furthermore, if left untreated, the parasite (Trypanosoma cruzi) can gradually harm the heart and other organs in about 30 percent of those infected.
Kissing bugs, named for their tendency to bite human faces, are flat, inch-long insects found across the Americas. Also referred to as conenose or vampire bugs, they feed on blood, transmitting T. cruzi through their droppings.
Globally, around 8 million people are infected, primarily in Latin America, but as temperatures rise, the habitats suitable for kissing bugs are expanding. It’s estimated that half of these bugs carry the Chagas parasite.
“With climate change, there’s growing concern that the range of endemic infections is moving north,” explains Joanna Schaenman, an infectious diseases physician.
While data on this shift is still lacking, the new CDC report indicates that the high rates of Chagas in dogs and its ongoing presence in wildlife suggest the disease is firmly established in the US.
Pets and wildlife serve as reservoirs for this disease, as noted by University of Florida researchers. The parasite may also be transmitted through contaminated food, blood products, or organ donations, and infected mothers can pass it on to their unborn children.
Though many people show no symptoms after being infected, some may develop noticeable issues like severe eyelid swelling, fever, fatigue, body aches, headaches, loss of appetite, diarrhea, and vomiting.
If left undiagnosed and untreated during the initial two-month acute phase, the parasite can embed itself in the heart and muscles, leading to significant damage to the digestive system, heart, and nervous system.
“This disease is really underdiagnosed,” remarks cardiologist Salvador Hernandez. “If we screened for it earlier, most patients could be cured. The trouble is we don’t, and it often leads to serious consequences or expensive medical care.”
For prevention, doctors advise using insect repellent, sealing gaps around windows and doors, and keeping clutter, like woodpiles, away from homes to minimize the risk of encountering kissing bugs.
This information comes from research published in Emerging Infectious Diseases.
