
Kissing bugs and the persistent threat of disease spread in the US
Kissing bugs, which bite around the mouth and eyes, are spreading in the U.S. and can transmit Chagas disease, a potentially fatal illness caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. The disease has an acute phase that can be cured with medication if caught early, but it can progress to a chronic stage with no cure, often without symptoms. Kissing bugs are found in rural and suburban areas, hiding in homes, and about half carry the parasite, posing a health risk to humans.












