Possible 300,000 unknowingly infected with deadly kissing bug disease in US
"With global warming, there's concern among scientists that the borders for where endemic infections occur are shifting northward."
A new report by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) suggests blood-sucking ‘kissing bugs’ have carried a dangerous parasite across 32 U.S. states. The report suggests as many as 300,000 people in the U.S. may unknowingly be infected with Chagas, the parasitic disease that the bugs can transmit.
The report suggests classifying Chagas disease as endemic in the United States due to its prevalence. Currently, Chagas is listed as endemic in 21 countries, excluding the U.S.
Experts hope re-labeling the disease will bring more awareness, preventative measures, wider testing, and reporting protocols because if Chagas is not treated promptly, it can lie dormant in the body for decades, eventually manifesting as a heart attack or stroke.
The disease kills around 10,000 people in Latin America annually.
The insect, Triatoma sanguisuga, feeds on the blood of animals and humans. It's sometimes called the "face-sucking" bug because it prefers to bite near the eyes. It is not invasive, and there are about a dozen native species of kissing bugs in the U.S. that can carry and transmit Chagas disease, although not all kissing bugs carry the disease.
Three types of 'kissing bugs', all of which can be found in the U.S. Experts say the risk of contracting Chagas, which can be transmitted by kissing bugs, in Canada is low. Canadians who become infected with Chagas normally do so when travelling outside of the country. (Curtis-Robles et al./Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0.
Warming weather helping the bugs spread
"With global warming, there's concern among scientists that the borders for where endemic infections occur are shifting northward," infectious diseases physician Joanna Schaenman told Science Alert.
Chagas has not been recorded in Canada, and experts say it is unlikely the bugs that transmit it will become established here, because our climate isn’t a suitable match for them. Canadians can, however, get a Chagas infection when travelling outside the country.
Signs and symptoms of an infection
Early indicators of Chagas disease are similar to those of the flu, consisting of fever, headaches, and rashes, all of which can last for several weeks. If these symptoms appear shortly after a kissing bug bite, consult a healthcare practitioner. Chagas must be treated within a two-month acute phase. If not, the parasite can settle in the heart and digestive muscles, causing problems that can take decades to appear.
National Institute of Health, between 60 and 70 per cent of infected patients develop no symptoms, so it is wise to consult a doctor after any suspected bite from a kissing bug.
Without treatment, the disease can progress to a "chronic" stage, with symptoms presenting 10 to 20 years post-infection. In the later stages, irregular heartbeat and heart failure are possible.
Between 20 and 30 per cent of people infected with Chagas disease develop heart problems.
Chagas disease is also prevalent in wildlife in the U.S., according to a report by the L.A. Times. Dogs are particularly susceptible to contracting the disease because of their tendency to eat the bugs, which delivers a much higher “dose” of infection than a bite, the report says.
Chagas disease can be confirmed with a blood test and treated with medication. It is not contagious.
People in areas where kissing bugs are present can protect themselves by wearing insect repellent.
Experts say the likelihood of contracting a Chagas infection while in Canada remains low.