Cases of Chagas in US can turn deadly and lead to death if not treated immediately, as is all others infected by the disease. What makes the disease even more deadly is that those infected may not know they are infected in the first place, living for many years unknowing of their infection, according to the World Health Organization.
According to a report by NewsMax, parasites usually reside in the heart and digestive muscles. 30 percent of patients usually suffer from cardiac disorders, while 10 percent undergo digestive problems.
Though many are still unaware, the Atlantic reports that awareness about Chagas in US is slowly progressing, especially in places like Virginia, with the state having more Bolivians than others. Dozens of Chagas cases have cropped up in the region recently.
NewsMax Health pointed out that around a dozen cases of Chagas in US, particularly near Washington, D.C. have been diagnosed. Doctors and experts are saying that they wouldn't be surprised if the numbers were higher. However, the large number seems to come from immigrants in the United States.
Researchers at Texas A&M told KFDX.com that they have also discovered kissing bugs in Dallas which adds to the increase of Chagas in US. The National Public Radio pointed as well to a study published Wednesday in the science journal Emerging Infectious Diseases stating that infected dogs are already acting as Trojan horses for introducing the Chagas in Texas.
The NPR reported of the spread of Chagas in US, 'From shelter mutts to purebred show dogs, canines across the state of Texas are becoming infected with a parasite that causes a potentially deadly disease in people.'
They added, 'Although the dogs aren't spreading the parasite directly to people, they are helping to make the disease more prevalent in the southern U.S. Not to mention the parasite can make dogs sick and even kill them.'
Chagas in US does not pose a serious threat to the general population as of now, reports The Examiner. However, patient advocates say that the lack of concern stems from the disease's connections to poverty and immigration. Around 11,000 people are reported to die of the disease in a year.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
