COVID-19 brought the entire world to a standstill in 2020 as it quickly made its way around the earth. Now, a new danger is making its way to Los Angeles: Chagas disease.
Also referred to as “the kissing bug disease,” California and 29 other states across the U.S. are enduring this new virus. Chagas disease is caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, carried by the kissing bug. Often these bugs bite people near the mouth or eyes while they sleep, transferring the parasite through their droppings.
“Chagas disease is a parasitic infection carried by the Reduviid bug, which is found primarily in South and Central America in rural areas with thatched roof housing,” said USC Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine Saahir Khan. “It can be a chronic infection that can cause damage to the heart and intestines many years after initial infection.”
Los Angeles remains a city with great potential health risk for the Chagas disease. Roughly three out of the 12 species of kissing bugs within the U.S. that reside in California are known to carry the parasite. However, the parasite has also been found in other local wildlife. Health officials estimate that as many as 45,000 people in LA County may already be affected.
“The immigrant community from Central and South America is most vulnerable due to living in areas where this disease is endemic,” said Khan. Many of these immigrants now reside in the heart of L.A.
Between 2019 and 2023, there were around 180 confirmed cases of Chagas disease in LA County. However, researchers believe the number is much higher due to many probably undiagnosed cases. “Los Angeles has a higher proportion of people who have lived in areas of South and Central America,” said Khan.
The main difference between COVID and Chagas is that Chagas doesn’t spread through the air but through kissing bugs, blood transfusions, organ transplants, and potentially even pregnancies.
Individuals who are themselves parasite-carriers often have mild to no symptoms, or their symptoms are brushed off as common flu-like illnesses and rashes. Nonetheless, its presence has experts worried due to its subtle nature and the serious health threats it can cause.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “early diagnosis and treatment can be lifesaving” in the case of Chagas. In the early stages, symptoms can look like a bad flu with fever, fatigue, headaches, or body aches. Often, individuals dismiss Chagas symptoms for a normal cold, but years later the disease can cause heart disease and serious digestive problems.
While Chagas creates uncertainty for Los Angeles, it is not likely another lockdown will occur. “Chagas disease is less likely to cause a pandemic, as it is not transmitted person to person,” said Khan.
Both COVID-19 and Chagas can go unnoticed for long periods of time, and their long-term effects like heart failure can be serious. Chagas can hide in the body for years before causing serious cardiac concerns. While Khan says that “both can initially present with fever,” symptoms for both diseases also include body aches and fatigue.
A global pandemic should not be in the foreseeable future, but key lessons still apply. Los Angeles residents can take precautionary steps by sleeping under bed nets, wearing protective clothing, and applying bug spray to exposed skin.
There are no current vaccines or medicines that prevent Chagas disease, so people must take extra precautions. “The best thing to do is spread awareness about this disease since it’s still pretty unknown and new, to seek professional medical help,” said Mira Costa health services assistant Jennifer Beck. “Stay at home if you have a fever until you feel better.”
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