Health Officials Sound the Alarm
A recent study published in the CDC’s journal Emerging Infectious Diseases warns that Chagas disease, a parasitic illness long associated with Latin America, is now spreading in the United States. Confirmed human cases have been reported in at least eight states, with California seeing the most activity. Researchers recommend classifying the disease as endemic, meaning it is consistently present within the population in certain regions.
The disease is transmitted by triatomine insects, commonly known as “kissing bugs,” which carry the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. The CDC notes that Chagas can cause long-term heart and digestive complications if left untreated, making early detection critical.
What Is Chagas Disease?
Chagas disease spreads when feces from infected kissing bugs enter the body through bite wounds, eyes, or mouth contact. Other forms of transmission include congenital infection (from mother to child during pregnancy) and organ transplants.
The illness has two stages: the acute phase, where symptoms may include fever, fatigue, rash, and eyelid swelling (Romaña’s sign), and the chronic phase, in which 20–30% of patients may develop life-threatening heart or digestive conditions. In the U.S., doctors often miss diagnoses because awareness remains low.
Prevalence and Risks
Experts estimate that about 300,000 people in the U.S. are living with Chagas disease, many of whom acquired the infection in Latin America. However, researchers stress the actual number is likely higher, as no national prevalence study has been conducted.
The disease is most common in areas where kissing bugs live close to human dwellings, including California, Texas, Arizona, Louisiana, and Florida. Rural and agricultural communities are especially vulnerable.
Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention
Two FDA-approved antiparasitic drugs, Benznidazole and Lampit (nifurtimox), are available in the U.S., though access is limited, especially in rural areas. A new treatment is currently being studied in clinical trials across the U.S. and Latin America. No vaccines exist at this time.
Health officials advise preventive measures to keep kissing bugs away from homes, including:
- Removing woodpiles, clutter, and animal nesting sites near houses
- Sealing window and door gaps, and installing proper screens
- Using residual pesticide sprays around likely entry points
Raising awareness among clinicians and the public is considered essential. “Recognizing Chagas disease as endemic is the first step to preventing its spread and protecting at-risk communities,” researchers stressed.