What to know about ‘kissing bug’ disease concerns in US

RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) – Health officials are sharing information on a disease called Chagas, an illness spread by “kissing bugs,” that is present in the United States.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports around 280,000 people in the United States have it but usually have no idea.

Some people are concerned about the presence of the disease.

However, health officials say there is no immediate need for alarm.

Dr. Eleanor Labgold is an entomologist for the Virginia Department of Health.

Labgold says, “When talking with state health experts, they tell me there’s no reason to panic. So far, there’s only been reported cases of Chagas disease in animals here in Virginia, not humans, but they say it is still important to know what it is and what to look out for.”

Labgold says the insect usually bites its host near the mouth or eyes.

She says, “As it is feeding on a person, it sometimes defecates. And then that bite becomes itchy, you scratch it, just not thinking about it, and then you introduce the parasite from the feces into your blood that way.”

One of the tell-tale symptoms of the disease is eye-lid swelling, as well as headache, nausea and vomiting.

Untreated, it can cause chronic health problems.

However, Labgold says with any type of medical intervention, the disease is “very manageable and “very treatable.”

Researchers argue it’s a big enough presence for the disease to be considered an endemic.

“Calling it endemic, it means we might have more resources to make things more reportable,” Labgold says. “It might mean we have a better chance of surveilling this insect. So it kind of opens up the door for us to really tackle it head on.”

According to a map by the CDC, Kentucky has reported animal and human cases.