Chagas disease causes approximately 10,000 to 12,000 deaths annually, with estimates varying slightly across sources, affecting millions globally, mostly in Latin America, and is considered a major public health concern leading to chronic heart disease and digestive issues.
6-7 million people are estimated to be infected with the Chagas disease causative parasite: Trypanosoma cruzi worldwide, with 30,000-40,000 new cases and 10,000-20,000 deaths every year. Chagas disease is often termed as a “silent and silenced disease” as the infected majority have no symptoms (or mild symptoms).
Chagas disease is most common in rural areas of Mexico and Central and South America. The early stage, or acute infection, of Chagas disease often has mild symptoms or goes unnoticed. Chronic infection can lead to serious heart and digestive system issues. Early diagnosis and treatment can be lifesaving.
Treatment. Chagas disease can be treated with benznidazole or nifurtimox. Both medicines kill the parasite and are fully effective in curing the disease if given early, in the acute phase, including in case of congenital transmission.
Our findings suggest that the common bed bug may be a competent vector of T. cruzi and could pose a risk for vector-borne transmission of Chagas disease.
Despite many studies, there is still no vaccines for Chagas Disease (CD), which affects approximately 7 million people mainly in Latin America.
Without treatment, people with Chagas disease can remain infected for life. About one-third will develop chronic Chagas, which can permanently affect the heart, brain and gastrointestinal and peripheral systems, regardless of a patient's age or other health factors.
Your healthcare professional does a physical exam, asking about your symptoms and anything that put you at risk of Chagas disease. If you have symptoms of Chagas disease, two or more blood tests can confirm the diagnosis. If you're diagnosed with Chagas disease, you're likely to have more tests.
Malaria Parasite (Plasmodium)
Not only a killer parasite, but one of the world's biggest killers, the malaria parasite is responsible for around 600,000 deaths a year.
Conclusions. Evidence that Chagas disease can be transmitted sexually, coupled with the migration of individuals with Chagas disease to previously non-endemic countries and increased travel to endemic countries, has implications for public health.
Chagas disease also affects the brain, particularly manifesting as cardioembolic strokes and cognitive impairments. Disease progression is influenced by various factors such as anti-parasite treatments, host–parasite interactions, and other determinants.
Globally, Ischaemic Heart Disease (Coronary Artery Disease) remains the world's biggest killer, but regionally, Dementia (including Alzheimer's) has recently become the leading cause of death in countries like Australia, surpassing heart disease for females and overall, while heart disease leads for males. Other top causes globally include stroke, respiratory infections, lung cancer, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
We tested over 1500 kissing bugs, and we found 54% were infected with Trypanosoma cruzi. Infection prevalence varied by kissing bug species. We also determined the T. cruzi strain types in infected bugs: we found TcI and TcIV.
Both septicemic plague (blood infection) and pneumonic plague (lung infection) had a nearly 100% death rate if left untreated, with pneumonic plague being the most contagious form, spreading through airborne droplets and being rapidly fatal. Untreated bubonic plague (swollen lymph nodes) could also develop into these deadly forms, leading to high mortality.
Medicare rebates haven't kept up with the real cost of running a clinic. GPs need to cover staff wages, rent, equipment, and rising costs. Many doctors charge a gap so they can spend more time with each patient and offer better care.
NIPT is a highly accurate and risk free, non-invasive prenatal screening test for detecting chromosomal abnormalities (fetal aneuploidies). All that is required from the mother is a simple blood sample, allowing us to screen for chromosomal conditions including trisomies, such as Down Syndrome, in the unborn child.
Chagas disease doesn't spread from being near an infected person. But the infection can come from: Eating uncooked food that has feces from bugs infected with the parasite. Being born to a person who is infected with the parasite.
If untreated, infection is lifelong and can be life-threatening. CDC estimates that more than 300,000 persons with Trypanosoma cruzi infection live in the United States. Most people with Chagas disease in the United States acquired their infections in endemic countries.
In the heart, the disease can cause enlargement of the heart muscle, leading to heart failure. Other common problems are arrythmias and sudden cardiac arrest. In the gastro-intestinal system, there can be enlargement of the colon or the oesophagus, leading to digestive problems.
Knowing if you have parasites involves recognizing symptoms like digestive issues (diarrhea, bloating, pain), unexplained weight loss, fatigue, skin rashes, or muscle aches, but often infections are subtle or asymptomatic, so a doctor's diagnosis through stool samples or blood tests is crucial for confirmation, especially if you have persistent symptoms like fever, extreme fatigue, or blood in your stool.
The PAHO has confirmed local transmission of the Zika virus in 52 countries and territories in the Americas since 2015. As of December 2025, over 25,800 suspected Zika cases, 1,808 confirmed, and one related fatality were reported in the Americas this year; most confirmed cases are in Brazil.