As a young girl, Emiliana Rodriguez witnessed a soccer player collapse and die suddenly during a match. This shocking event left her terrified of an invisible danger she would later learn was Chagas disease, a deadly illness spread by nocturnal insects. Each year, nearly 8 million people become infected, and approximately 12,000 die from its complications.
Now 42 and living in Barcelona after moving from Bolivia 27 years ago, Rodriguez was diagnosed with Chagas disease herself. The news reignited her childhood fears, making her anxious each night, wondering if she would wake up in the morning. During her first pregnancy, when she was just 18, medical tests revealed she carried the Chagas parasite. Haunted by memories of her friend’s sudden death, she feared for her unborn child. Fortunately, doctors provided treatment to prevent transmission, and her baby was born healthy.
Elvira Idalia Hernández Cuevas, another woman impacted by the disease, learned about Chagas when her 18-year-old son was diagnosed. It wasn’t until she donated blood in her hometown of Veracruz, Mexico, that she discovered she, too, was infected. Searching the internet for answers, she was overwhelmed by the potentially fatal nature of the disease. Like many, she had never even heard of Chagas, named after Carlos Ribeiro Justiniano Chagas, who identified it in 1909, despite its widespread presence in Latin America, North America, Europe, Japan, and Australia.
The disease is transmitted by “kissing bugs,” which thrive in rural and suburban homes. These nocturnal insects bite people and can spread the parasite through their feces if it comes into contact with broken skin or mucous membranes, like the mouth or eyes. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), between 6 and 7 million people worldwide are infected, but most remain undiagnosed. The CDC states that Chagas is responsible for more deaths in Latin America than any other parasitic disease, including malaria. In the United States alone, nearly 300,000 people are infected.
Around 30% of those with Chagas develop severe heart or digestive complications, often years after infection. Shockingly, only 10% of cases are detected worldwide, making prevention and treatment difficult. Hernández struggled to find knowledgeable doctors, encountering misdiagnoses and misinformation. With help from a medically informed family member, she finally received the treatment she needed.
Despite government claims that Chagas is under control in Mexico, Hernández disagrees, citing frequent misdiagnoses. The WHO classifies Chagas as a neglected tropical disease due to its silent progression and lack of early symptoms. In the UK, the Chagas Hub is working to improve testing and prevent mother-to-child transmission.
However, Professor Moore of the Hospital for Tropical Diseases in London remains skeptical about major progress by 2030, calling efforts to combat the disease “glacial.” The two main treatments, benznidazole and nifurtimox, can cause severe side effects, especially in adults. Rodriguez endured dizziness and nausea but remained committed to her treatment, undergoing regular check-ups. Unfortunately, pharmaceutical companies show little interest in developing better treatments due to limited financial incentives.
To prevent infestations of kissing bugs, the CDC recommends sealing homes, using window screens, and keeping living spaces clean. If you encounter a kissing bug, do not crush it. Instead, capture it in a jar with alcohol or freeze it before bringing it to a professional for identification.
While Chagas disease continues to be overlooked, raising awareness and improving access to treatment remain crucial in the fight against this silent killer.
