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The deadly blood-sucking “kissing bug” has spread to Southern California.
San Diego County reported its first locally acquired case of Chagas disease on Monday.
The bug, officially called triatomines, spreads “flu-like illness with fever, headache, cough, abdominal pain or swelling at the bite site.”
Chagas can also spread to infants during pregnancy, as well as cause serious heart and gastrointestinal complications in those infected years later.
San Diego officials note the disease is usually only seen frequently in Latin America.
“Identifying a locally acquired Chagas case reminds us that this disease is not limited to Latin America,” Dr. Sayone Thihalilopavan, County Public Health Officer, said.
“Our priority is making sure residents, and healthcare providers have the information they need to stay protected.”
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Kissing bugs are small, black-and-brown insects called triatomines that feed on the blood of people, pets and wild animals, according to Texas A&M’s Kissing Bugs program.
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The pests earned their name because they tend to bite people on the face — especially around the mouth and eyes.
Kissing bugs are common in 21 countries, including Mexico and parts of Central and South America, where they’re considered endemic, meaning they’re always present.
Chagas disease is caused by a parasite called Trypanosoma cruzi, which lives in the guts of about 55% of the kissing bugs in the US.
The pests usually infect people via the poop they leave behind near a bite wound, but it can also be spread via organ donations, blood transfusions or mothers who pass it onto their babies during pregnancy, according to the WHO.
Worldwide, more than 7 million people are estimated to carry the parasite, causing over 10,000 deaths each year.
In the US, the American Heart Association estimates that around 300,000 people have Chagas disease. While most cases have been in the South, these bloodsuckers are steadily creeping north.
San Diego County officials advise anyone experiencing symptoms to contact their healthcare provider.