Rodríguez found out she was a carrier of Chagas during her pregnancy, but her daughter tested negative. Elvira Hernández discovered Chagas when her son tested positive. She said, “I was scared when I read about it being a silent killer.” Chagas is spread by kissing bugs and affects 8 million people in Latin America, causing 12,000 deaths each year. In the U.S., around 300,000 people are infected, although it is less common. Hernández had difficulty finding medical help because many doctors were unaware of the disease, and she criticized Mexico’s healthcare system. Chagas can be transmitted through blood transfusions, organ transplants, and from mother to child. Professor Moore is working to develop better treatments, but progress has been slow. Current treatments use toxic drugs like benznidazole, which are not very effective for adults.
