(NewsNation) — A new disease has caught the attention of epidemiologists after spreading to more than half the states in the U.S.
Chagas disease was recently discovered in California, and led to between 70,000 and 100,000 people being infected, the most of any population. The parasite and vector live in the area, resulting in many homegrown cases.
So far, the disease has been detected in 32 states, with confirmed cases in eight — mostly in the South, where Texas has been hardest hit. Other states include California, Arizona, Tennessee, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi and Arkansas.
Pets are also at risk, with animal cases confirmed in 10 states, including New Mexico, Florida, Kentucky and Georgia.
Epidemiologists have called on the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to label the disease an endemic, with hopes of spreading awareness and funding to begin studying it.
What is Chagas disease?
Chagas disease is caused by an infection from the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, which lives in a bloodsucking insect called the “kissing bug.”
“This is a disease that has been neglected and has been impacting Latin Americans for many decades,” said Norman Beatty, with the University of Florida. “But it’s also here in the United States.”
According to the CDC, Chagas disease is considered endemic to 21 countries in the Americas, but not the United States. However, the disease has increased in insects, domestic animals and wildlife in the country.
Over 7 million people worldwide, mostly in Latin America, are estimated to have been infected by the disease.
How can the ‘kissing bug’ disease be transmitted?
The disease can be transmitted as a result of interactions between people and animals. The parasite enters the body when an individual is bitten by the kissing bug and comes into contact with the bug’s feces or urine.
“Kissing bugs can feed on people, dogs, and wild animals,” according to Texas A&M University’s Kissing Bugs program.”They feed many times over their lives. When kissing bugs feed, they can take several minutes to take a full meal. Kissing bugs do NOT attach like ticks. Kissing bug bites do not usually hurt the person while they are feeding.”
In addition, the condition can be transferred during pregnancy or birth through blood or blood products, organ transplantation or laboratory accidents.
What are the symptoms of Chagas disease?
The symptoms of Chagas disease can be felt in the short and long term.
Individuals infected may not be aware of the effects of the disease because it can lie dormant for years.
Kissing bugs’ saliva can result in swollen limbs and eyes, along with anaphylaxis. More chronic ramifications include heart attacks, strokes or other serious cardiac issues.
“The disease is definitely underdiagnosed,” said Salvador Hernandez, a cardiologist in California. “If we screened for it and caught it early, most patients could be cured. The problem is, we don’t, and people end up dying or requiring terrifically expensive care,” including organ transplants and surgery.
The CDC has urged doctors to stay alert.
“These are still in the United States, quite unusual infections. No one should panic,” said William Schaffner, professor of infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University. “We can do a blood test for this infection, and 29 million donated units of blood have been tested for this infection here in the United States. They have discovered 16 infections. That’s the definition of rare.”
How to protect yourself from ‘kissing bug’ disease
Health experts recommend using insect repellent, wearing long clothing and washing produce thoroughly to protect yourself from the disease.