Hamilton County Health Dept and CDC Raise Awareness of Chagas Disease

CHATTANOOGA,TN, (WDEF)-They are called kissing bugs and they bite you around the mouth often while you’re sleeping, infecting you with the disease.

Dr Greg Heath, UTC Health and Human Performance, "But while it feeds it defecates so essentially that fecal matter is where this protozoan actually resides so then when you rub it in response to the irritation of the bite you put it across your eyes or your mouth you introduce the eggs of this protozoan."

At the Hamilton County Health Department they say there have been a number of  cases of Chagas in Tennessee and awareness is key.

Dan Walker, Epidemiologist at Hamilton County Health Dept, "I think there is no reason for alarm, but there is risk. Last year there were two cases in Tennessee, so we do know the disease has been here and we do have the insect in Tennessee that can transmit the parasite."

The disease has flu like symptoms as well as causing a severe swelling on the neck, eyelids and mouth, but is very hard to contract from someone who is already infected.

Dr. Susan Montgomery, CDC Division of Parasitic Diseases,"Tennessee has made this a reportable disease which  means doctors in your state are required to report any cases of Chagas to the state health department which lets them track it and helps take care of those patients better."

More than 50 indigenous cases have now been reported in the US with more than a quarter of a million people infected.

A case of the disease has also been confirmed in Virginia with more than a dozen patients having showed symptoms in Texas.

The bugs also known as reduviid or chinche prefer swampy environments and can also be found in thatched roofs or in homes with cracks and crevices.

For more information:
http://health.state.tn.us/ReportableDiseases/
http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/chagas/
http://www.who.int/topics/chagas_disease/en/