Posted on 07/28/2014 7:10:07 PM PDT by Dallas59
Some 8 million people have Chagas disease, a life-threatening illness passed to humans by "kissing bugs," or triatomines, living in Latin America. In the US, few people know about the disease—but the CDC figures that some 300,000 people may be infected here.
In countries like Bolivia, which has the highest rate of Chagas in the world, it's standard practice to screen expectant mothers for the disease, since they could pass it on to their children.
But in the US, doctors rarely think to check for the illness, which can cause heart or colon problems years down the line that, left untreated, can kill.
But awareness is growing, especially in places like Virginia, which one doctor suggests could be "ground zero" for the illness in the US, the Atlantic reports.
The state has more Bolivians than any other, and dozens of cases have cropped up in the region. Infants and new cases can potentially be cured, but people with chronic cases may face eventual heart failure or brain inflammation.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Our pediatrician in Tucson was bit in her house on her couch by a kissing bug. She didn’t realize it until after the fact. She had an allergic reaction and nearly died. Thankfully, her husband is also a doc, and they made it to the hospital in time. She wanted us to know about these little critters just in case.
To all the uncontrolled alien invasion lovers...thanks a lot, you jerks.
No, the “principal vector” (quoting) is Rhodnius prolixus. Wikipedia has more information here
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chagas_disease
Scroll down a little for a photo of the Chagas beetle.
It’s called a kissing bug because it often poops on a person/ animal’s mouth (I want to say seeking moisture there, but it was long ago I read about it). The person scratches or rubs their mouth & pushes the feces into their mouth. I’m not sure if the transmission is the same with animals.
All of the produce & goods produced in Mexico, Central & South America? There’s your carrier; the produce itself & foreign shipments.
(I had one of my dogs tested for Chagas- among many other things, in 2010 because of unexplained lameness)
“...The CDC has said that they believe most of the people infected with Chagas got the parasite in Mexico or South America before coming to the U.S....”
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This single sentence tells you everything you need to know. Another step in the Obama regime’s campaign to weaken America is accomplished.
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