"The World Health Organization considers Chagas a neglected tropical disease, and the Pan American Health Organization says it is endemic with a constant presence or usual prevalence in 21 other countries in the Americas, not including the United States. Chagas is one of the leading causes of heart disease in Latin America, and it causes more disability than other insect-borne infections, even more than malaria and Zika, studies show."
"Chagas largely spreads when triatomine bugs, commonly known as kissing bugs, bite a human while they're sleeping. The bug defecates in that bite or on a person's face, and the person unwittingly wipes the feces into their eyes, nose or mouth. The feces can carry a parasite, Trypanosoma cruzi, that causes the disease. Chagas can also spread through contaminated food or blood, organ transplants and pregnancy."
Chagas disease is now recognized as endemic in parts of the United States, indicating a constant presence in some regions. Increased surveillance, prevention, diagnostic testing, and research funding are needed to reduce unnecessary suffering and undetected cases. The disease is caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi and primarily spreads when triatomine "kissing" bugs bite and defecate on sleeping humans. Additional transmission routes include contaminated food, blood transfusion, organ transplants, and congenital infection. Early symptoms can include fever, body aches, headaches, rash, vomiting, and fatigue, and chronic infection can cause severe cardiac disease and disability.
Read at www.mercurynews.com
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