Chagas

The Chagas disease is an illness caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, a parasite transmitted by bed bugs (Hemiptera Cimicidae, Triatominae sub-family) that feed on blood and colonize mainly rural and sub-urban areas in Latin America, although over the past decades they have been found more frequently in the United States, Canada, Spain and some countries of the Western Pacific. This is due, largely, to population migration between Latin America and the rest of the world.

6 to 8

million

people affected globally.

1.2

million

are childbearing-age females

14,000

deaths

per year in the Americas.

9.000

babies

are born with Chagas every year around the world.

50,000 to 100,000

cases

estimated in Spain, the country with the largest number of affected people in Europe.

1.6

million

people infected in Argentina

Source: PAHO/WHO

How is it transmitted?

The Chagas parasite is transmitted to humans mainly through bed bug feces, blood transfusions or organ grafts coming from an infected individual; through intake of contaminated foods or beverages; or through an infected mother to her child during pregnancy or delivery.

“We must rescue Chagas disease from oblivion”

– Silvia Gold

What symptoms are present?

Many years can go by before symptoms appear; they are mainly heart or digestive symptoms. The most common causes of death are cardiovascular events and, on some occasions, sudden death.

Lack of diagnosis

90%

of people don’t even know whether or not they have been infected

Mortality rates

70%

of cases. If not diagnosed soon enough, Chagas may become a death-threatening disease.

Most important:

There is a cure for Chagas disease.