A deadly malady known as “kissing bug” disease is now an endemic illness in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The nation is seeing a rise in the illness, which is officially known as Chagas disease.
It can be life-threatening and is transmitted through “kissing bugs” that bite human faces, the Washington Post reported. Pets can carry the disease.
A disease is considered endemic when it is constantly present within a specific area or population.
More than 100 million people worldwide are considered at risk of being infected with Chagas disease, according to the World Health Organization.
The “kissing bug” itself is caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, which is found in the feces of the triatomine bug — commonly known as the “kissing bug” because it often bites people’s faces, the Post said.
Insects can become infected when they feed on the blood of hosts carrying the parasite.
Humans and animals can become infected in a few ways, according to the Post:
- When contaminated feces are accidentally rubbed into open wounds, the eyes or the mouth
- From pregnant mother to child
- Through contaminated blood transfusions (but this is rarer)
Dogs are one of the animals that can host the parasite, and there has been growing evidence of canine infections in states including Texas and California.
There are at least eight states where cases of Chagas disease have been identified: California, Arizona, Texas, Tennessee, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi and Arkansas.
The kissing bugs themselves “occur naturally in the southern half of the country and have been identified in 32 states,” according to the CDC, the Post said. They’re often found in rural parts of Mexico, Central America and South America.
No vaccines
There aren’t any vaccines or drugs right now to prevent Chagas disease, the CDC said.
However, in the U.S., two anti-parasitic medicines have been approved for those who are suspected to have been infected, the Post said.
Mitigation tactics include:
- Spraying areas with long-lasting insecticides
- Wearing clothing that covers the skin
- Avoiding raw vegetables and unpeeled fruits in areas where Chagas disease has been detected
Pet owners can help prevent Chagas disease by using anti-flea and tick medications such as Nexgard and Bravecto.
When traveling in areas where the insects are present, the CDC recommended reducing the risk of contact with infected kissing bugs, which are “sometimes found in the cracks and crevices of poorly constructed houses and can survive both indoors and outdoors,” according to the Post.
There are two phases of Chagas disease — acute and chronic — with the former potentially being asymptomatic.
The acute phase happens in the first few weeks or months after infection. It can cause mild symptoms like fever, fatigue, body aches or swelling of the eyelid.
People should seek treatment at this stage, the CDC advised, according to the Post.
Without treatment, the chronic disease can develop, lasting for several years or even a lifetime.
As many as 30% can develop serious health complications — leading to conditions like heart failure or an enlarged esophagus or colon, according to the CDC. Others may remain asymptomatic.
The disease is “often fatal by the time symptoms develop,” Paula Stigler Granados, an associate professor at the San Diego State University School of Public Health, told the Post.
Megan Swift is a TribLive reporter covering trending news in Western Pennsylvania. A Murrysville native, she joined the Trib full time in 2023 after serving as editor-in-chief of The Daily Collegian at Penn State. She previously worked as a Jim Borden Scholarship intern at the Trib for three summers. She can be reached at mswift@triblive.com.
