{"id":389330,"date":"2026-07-07T15:59:16","date_gmt":"2026-07-07T15:59:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/389330\/"},"modified":"2026-07-07T15:59:16","modified_gmt":"2026-07-07T15:59:16","slug":"case-of-deadly-kissing-bug-found-in-california-and-sufferers-may-not-even-know-they-have-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/389330\/","title":{"rendered":"Case of deadly \u2018kissing bug\u2019 found in California \u2014 and sufferers may not even know they have it"},"content":{"rendered":"

The deadly blood-sucking \u201ckissing bug\u201d<\/a> has spread to Southern California.<\/p>\n

San Diego County reported its first locally acquired case of Chagas disease on Monday.<\/p>\n

The bug, officially called triatomines, spreads \u201cflu-like illness with fever, headache, cough, abdominal pain or swelling at the bite site.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chagas can also spread to infants during pregnancy, as well as cause serious heart and gastrointestinal complications in those infected years later.<\/p>\n

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The deadly blood-sucking \u201ckissing bug\u201d has spread to Southern California. WHO\/TDR Image Library<\/p>\n

San Diego officials note the disease is usually only seen frequently in Latin America.<\/p>\n

\u201cIdentifying a locally acquired Chagas\u00a0case reminds us that\u00a0this disease\u00a0is not limited to Latin\u00a0America,\u201d\u00a0 Dr.\u00a0Sayone Thihalilopavan, County Public Health Officer, said.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur priority is making sure residents,\u00a0and healthcare providers have\u00a0the\u00a0information they need to stay protected.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kissing bugs are small, black-and-brown insects called triatomines that feed on the blood of people, pets and wild animals, according to\u00a0Texas A&M\u2019s Kissing Bugs program<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The pests earned their name because they tend to bite people on the face \u2014 especially around the mouth and eyes.<\/p>\n

Kissing bugs are common in 21 countries, including Mexico and parts of Central and South America, where they\u2019re considered endemic, meaning they\u2019re always present.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The bug, officially called triatomines, spreads \u201cflu-like illness with fever, headache, cough, abdominal pain or swelling at the bite site.\u201d Getty Images\/500px<\/p>\n

Chagas disease is caused by a parasite called Trypanosoma cruzi, which lives in the guts of about 55% of the kissing bugs in the US.<\/p>\n

The pests usually infect people via the poop they leave behind near a bite wound, but it can also be spread via organ donations, blood transfusions or mothers who pass it onto their babies during pregnancy,\u00a0according to the WHO<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Worldwide, more than 7 million people are estimated to carry the parasite, causing over 10,000 deaths each year.<\/p>\n

In the US, the\u00a0American Heart Association estimates<\/a>\u00a0that around 300,000 people have Chagas disease. While most cases have been in the South, these bloodsuckers are steadily creeping north.<\/p>\n

San Diego County officials advise anyone experiencing symptoms to contact their healthcare provider.<\/p>\n

\"ViniSouza128<\/p>\n

ViniSouza128 \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n

Chagas unfolds in two stages. The first, called the acute phase, hits in the weeks or months after infection. Most people show no symptoms,\u00a0according to the CDC<\/a>.<\/p>\n

If symptoms do appear, they may include fever, fatigue, body aches, headache, rash, loss of appetite, diarrhea, vomiting, and eyelid swelling.<\/p>\n

The real danger comes later, in the chronic phase, which can last years or even a lifetime. Again, most remain symptom-free \u2014 but some develop serious health problems.<\/p>\n

One to three decades after infection, up to a third suffer heart issues, while about 1 in 10 face digestive problems like an enlarged esophagus or colon.<\/p>\n

Over time, damage to the nervous system and muscles in the heart and gut can cause life-threatening complications, such as arrhythmias, heart failure, and even sudden death.<\/p>\n

The disease is treatable, but only during the acute phase. \u00a0Drugs like benznidazole and nifurtimox can kill the parasite and ease symptoms during that time,\u00a0per the Mayo Clinic<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Once chronic, the disease can\u2019t be cured. Treatment then focuses on managing symptoms. Heart problems may require medication, surgery or pacemakers, while digestive issues might call for diet changes or surgery.<\/p>\n

But because early symptoms often go unnoticed, many people don\u2019t realize they\u2019re infected \u2014 making early treatment a challenge.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe disease is definitely underdiagnosed,\u201d Salvador Hernandez, a cardiologist,\u00a0told News Nation<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf we screened for it and caught it early, most patients could be cured. The problem is, we don\u2019t, and people end up dying or requiring terrifically expensive care, including organ transplants and surgery.\u201d<\/p>\n

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