By Charles Zackary King | Inspired by reporting from Julia Gomez & Greta Cross, USA TODAY
For decades, Chagas disease, also known as “kissing bug” disease, was considered a threat confined to Latin America. But new research is challenging that assumption, urging the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to declare it endemic in the United States.
Since 2013, over 10,000 sightings of triatomine bugs (the blood-feeding insects that carry the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi) have been reported across 31 states. These bugs, nicknamed “kissing bugs” for their tendency to bite near the mouth, are more than a nuisance, they’re potential carriers of a deadly parasite. Alarmingly, 55% of the bugs tested in a nationwide Texas A&M University program were found to carry T. cruzi, the parasite responsible for Chagas disease.
What makes this moment urgent is the shift from imported cases to domestic transmission. In eight states, California, Texas, Arizona, Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, Missouri, and Tennessee, humans have contracted Chagas disease locally, without international travel. That’s a seismic shift in how we understand vector-borne disease in America.
Chagas disease unfolds in two stages: acute and chronic. Early symptoms include fever, diarrhea, and swollen eyelids (known as Romaña’s sign). But the chronic phase can be far more devastating, leading to heart failure, digestive complications, and even sudden death. The CDC estimates that 20–30% of infected individuals will develop serious complications.
Despite this, Chagas remains underreported. It’s not a nationally notifiable disease, meaning healthcare providers aren’t required to report cases. This lack of surveillance leaves vulnerable communities, especially in the rural South, at risk and under-informed.
Animals, particularly dogs, are also susceptible. Cases have been documented in 18 states, including Georgia, Alabama, Florida, and the Carolinas. The parasite’s reach is expanding, and so must our awareness.
This isn’t just a health story, it’s a justice story. It’s about who gets protected, who gets ignored, and how we respond when the invisible becomes undeniable. As we confront the realities of climate change, migration, and neglected diseases, Chagas is a wake-up call.
It’s time to ask: What else is hiding in plain sight?
📝 Original reporting by Julia Gomez and Greta Cross, USA TODAY. Published September 25, 2025. Read the full article on NewsBreak.
