In worrying news for Californians, and the rest of the country, Chagas disease – a parasitic infection – from ‘kissing bugs’ has made its way into the state, ABC7 Eyewitness News reports.
It's causing concerns because the infection can spread through many parts – through the bugs mainly – and cause chronic health problems, and even death, the World Health Organization (WHO) states.
These bugs, now firmly entrenched in Southern California, can be found in wooded areas of Griffith Park and often attack the face, the publication also said. Apart from California, these ‘kissing bugs’ have been found in 32 other states, including Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. These bugs feed on blood, belonging to humans, pets, and wild animals. They tend to bite on the face, around the mouth and eyes, which earned them the nickname, as per Texas A&M’s Kissing Bugs program.
Given that at least eight Americans have caught Chagas disease through local transmission, scientists have urged the CDC and WHO to officially declare it endemic in the US. So, what is Chagas disease and how to detect it?
What is Chagas disease?
Chagas disease or American trypanosomiasis is an infection caused by a protozoan parasite. However, the World Health Organization notes that only with a missed or late diagnosis with absent or incomplete treatment and follow-up can turn this into a life-threatening situation.
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