It’s a little known disease Spreading across the USprimarily in California, health officials have warned.
In a new study published in the CDC Journal Emerging Infectious Diseases, researchers say human cases of Chagas disease have been identified in eight states, recommending that the disease be classified as “endopathic.”
“Acknowledging the endemic nature of Chagas disease in the United States is important to achieving global health goals,” the author writes.
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines disease as “indigenous” when populations within a particular geographical area have a “continuous presence and/or normal prevalence,” or “baseline” level of disease within a community.
“Chagas disease (or trypanosmia in the United States) is already endemic in South and Central America, but it now spreads to the southern part of the United States, where it has become established among insects and animals.”
Chagas’ disease is a parasitic disease that is spread by a bug in tritmin.Kiss a bug“According to the CDC.
This disease is T. It is transmitted when feces from insects infected with cruzi parasites enter the human body.
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“When a kiss bug takes a bloody diet, it eventually defecates the feces and leaves somewhere,” Dr. Norman Beatty, an assistant professor of medicine at the University of Florida School of Medicine, told Fox News Digital.
“During feeding, it can “poop” on the skin or mucous membranes, and then parasites enter the area. Bug feces end inside or near the home, and can be ingested by chance or rubbed against the skin or mucous membranes. ”
Infections in the United States can also occur from congenital infections where chronically infected mothers can transmit parasites to the fetus. Organ transplantationaccording to Beatty.
The first stage of Chagas disease, known as the acute phase, occurs immediately after infection. According to the CDC, a long chronic phase continues.
This disease does not always cause illness, but some people may experience symptoms.
“Chagas can lead to fever, fatigue, rash, body pain, swelling of lymph nodes and can lead to later Digestive problemsheart problems and neurological involvement,” Siegel warned.
Another feature of the disease is swelling of the eyelids, also known as the Romana sign.
At the chronic stage, approximately 20% to 30% of people with an infectious disease can experience potentially fatality Heart problems Or serious digestive problems, says the CDC.
Approximately 300,000 people live with Chagas disease. latin america According to Beatty, the United States.
“However, the exact number is unknown. No national prevalence studies have been conducted,” he told Fox News Digital.
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Experts say the disease is more likely to occur in states where kissing bugs have been found near where people live, including California, Arizona, Texas, Louisiana and parts of Florida.
“What really matters is whether a kissing bug has invaded your home and has a port with parasites that cause Chagas disease in certain areas,” he said, adding that the researchers understand local diseases in the US and “falling an iceberg.”
“Unfortunately, most of the US don’t know the fact that this ‘silent killer’ and bugs have spread,” he said.
“Our first step is to recognize that this is an endemic infection and to build on improving education among the public. Healthcare providerand allocate funding for research and programs to support testing and additional monitoring. ”
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Experts call Chagas “a neglected tropical disease.”
“Our hope as a team studying Chagas here in the US is to bring awareness to the fact that this infection is contagious here and can be fatal,” he told Fox News Digital. “More research Resources are needed to reduce communication to at-risk communities, particularly those living in rural and agricultural sectors. ”
Most of the time, Beatty said people were bitten by bugs in beds and homes.
“From there, a person reaches out and begins a test and education process on how to prevent insects from reaching their homes and prevent them from wanting to be around human housing.”
Lab screening tests and treatments are readily available, but clinicians rarely notice that the disease is transmitted in certain communities.
There are two Antiparacidae drugs Approved for treatment of Chagas disease in the US – benznidazole and rampit (nifluthimox).
“Now, clinical trials are being conducted to evaluate new agents for the treatment of chagas at certain centers in the US and Latin America,” Beatty said.
There is There is no vaccine It is currently available to prevent illness.
Finding a healthcare provider who understands the disease could be a challenge, Beatty pointed out.
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“In my clinic, people traveled from other states to meet me in Florida.
“It is essential that future clinicians begin education on how to test, treat and manage Chagas disease and infected people.”
Beatty also shared some tips to prevent kissing bugs from entering the house.
That includes the removal of “port” of Nested animals Near the houses of rodents, including trees and messy mountains.
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It is also effective to seal door jumpers, window stickers and other entry points and place screens on windows and doors.
Beatty also recommends “judicial use” of pesticide residues that are sprayed near potential entrances, such as door jumpers and window boundaries.
