COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A parasitic disease called Chagas may be establishing itself in the United States, and the “kissing bugs” that cause the illness are known to live in Ohio, according to a recent report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The CDC released a report earlier this month on Chagas disease, an illness caused by a parasite found in the feces of blood-sucking insects called triatominae, which are also known as kissing bugs due to their tendency to bite sleeping humans in the face. People can contract the disease when an infected bug's feces enter an open wound, or get into the eyes, nose or mouth.
Chagas disease is curable with early treatment, though untreated cases can lead to serious heart or digestive complications later in life. In rare instances, early