How is Chagas disease spread?
Over 80% of Chagas cases are transmitted by vector, meaning spread by insects. The Chagas disease vectors are blood-sucking triatomines, a subfamily of reduviid insects more commonly known as “kissing” bugs in English, “vinchucas” in Spanish speaking Latin American countries, or “barbeiros” in Brazil. In Latin America, 41,2008 new cases are estimated to occur yearly due to vector transmission, with highest numbers occurring in Bolivia and Mexico, with an estimated 10,300 and 7,700 new cases per year, respectively. Approximately 15 % of cases are transmitted by blood transfusions or organ transplants, 4% by congenital (mother-to-child) transmission, and less than 1% come from lab accidents or the ingestion of contaminated foods. Interesting fact: The bug was nicknamed ‘barbeiro’ (which means ‘shaver’) due to its preference to bite on the face while people were falling asleep.
