Disease-carrying "kissing bugs" are spreading in the US
Earth.com••health
Key Points:
- Researchers at The University of Texas at El Paso found the Chagas disease parasite, Trypanosoma cruzi, in 22 of 26 kissing bugs collected near the U.S.-Mexico border, indicating a potential rise in local transmission risk in the Southwest.
- Kissing bugs, which feed on blood at night and can transmit the parasite through infected feces entering the body, were found in both wild and residential areas, increasing the likelihood of human and pet exposure.
- Chagas disease often remains symptom-free for years while the parasite damages heart and digestive muscles, making early detection difficult; up to one-third of chronically infected individuals may develop serious heart complications.
- Preventive measures such as home repairs, yard cleanup, sealing cracks, and
