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MADRID, SPAIN - 2025/05/09: Panstrongylus megistus displayed in Faunia zoo. Panstrongylus megistus is a blood-drinking insect in the subfamily Triatominae, is an important vector of Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease. (Photo by Expand

Chagas disease, also known as the "kissing bug" disease, is spreading across the United States, and some researchers believe it should now be classified as endemic.

What we know:

Human cases of the deadly disease have been reported in eight states, including Texas, California, Arizona, Tennessee, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi and Arkansas.

However, the blood-sucking insects that cause Chagas disease have been found in 32 states over the past decade.

In a report published last month for the CDC's Emerging Infectious Di

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