You could say that Chagas Disease is one of those things that you didn’t hear about too often until more recent times. But even so, this is a serious condition, causing about 20,000 deaths each year. It’s more often found in Central and South America where it affects between 8 to 10 million people. Another 300 to 400,000 in the US and Spain are also affected. Chagas disease is transmitted by a nasty little bug called a Triatomine. These mean creatures come out at night and land on people’s faces while they are sleeping and help themselves to a belly full of blood. This has earned them the nickname of ‘kissing bugs.’ Once they are done feeding they usually poop on their victim which leaves parasites known as Trypanosomatids on or very close to the bite wound. (more…)