A Rare Insect-Borne Disease Is Infecting More And More Americans
There are a variety of insect-borne diseases that have been described by medical experts and biologists. These diseases, include malaria, yellow fever and the Zika virus. These insect-borne diseases are all caused by mosquitoes. In fact, very few people can name one single insect-borne disease that is not caused by mosquitoes, and tick-borne diseases don’t count, as ticks are arachnids, not insects. Here in America, most people can name a few insect-borne diseases, such as the West Nile virus and the Zika virus. Of course these diseases are also caused by mosquitoes, as very few insects in America are known for spreading diseases to humans. However, this may soon change, as one type of insect-borne disease is infecting more and more people in North America, and this disease is not transmitted by mosquitoes. This insect-borne disease is known as chagas disease, and it is spread by a species of kissing bug.
A rare parasitic insect-borne disease is increasing in America, and researchers are beginning to rethink this diseases’ commonality in the United States. At the moment, more than thirty thousand Americans are infected with chagas disease. This disease can cause death as a result of heart failure or stroke. Chagas disease is not considered rare in Central and South America where an estimated eight million people are currently infected with the disease. However, the disease seems to be moving further north as several chagas disease cases have been reported in the southern states of Florida, Texas, Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas, Arizona, and Massachusetts. Much like the West Nile virus and the Zika virus, most people who become infected with chagas disease will not know about their infection, as clear symptoms are not always experienced, but thirty percent of those who become infected will develop serious symptoms. In response to the increase in Chagas cases in America, the American Heart Association is urging physicians to consider this disease before diagnosing their patients.
Do you think that chagas disease will only become more prevalent in America as time goes on?