& # 39; Kissing insects & # 39; carriers of Chagas disease in southern Arizona



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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a blood sucking insect carrying the parasitic disease has been discovered in 29 states, including Arizona.

The "kissing virus" is most commonly found in South and Central America, but was first sighted in the United States in the mid-19th century.

Insects can transmit Chagas disease, which can cause itching, swelling, arch, hives and fever. A chronic case can cause life-threatening heart and gastrointestinal complications.

Earlier this month, the CDC announced that a virus embracing an illness had bitten a girl's face in Delaware. That's why you may have recently seen a host of headlines mentioning "a deadly disease of the virus." Fortunately, the child had no ill effects.

The CDC estimates that approximately 300,000 people with Chagas disease live in the United States and that most of them have been infected in areas of Latin America where the disease has been diagnosed.

Many people with the disease may not know they have been infected, but others may have a stroke, heart attack or sudden death, says Trespons College of Medicine at the University of Toronto. 'Arizona.

It is estimated that 20 to 30% of those infected will develop serious medical problems, according to the CDC. If left untreated, Chagas disease can cause congestive heart failure.

According to the American Association of Poison Centers, Arizona has the highest number of contacts with bedbugs that kiss in the United States. In Arizona, hugs are more numerous in the south of the state, especially in Pima County, the Arizona Health Services Department announced.

According to ADHS, up to 50% of the hugging insects found in Arizona are positive for the parasite that causes Chagas disease.

It sounds scary, but do not panic. Chagas disease is still rare in Arizona. The ADHS indicates that only 61 people were tested positive for the disease from 2007 to 2018.

Although the insects carrying the disease sting people's faces while they sleep, the real danger comes from their shit.

After drinking blood, bedbugs kiss the person. According to the CDC, parasites in faeces can then enter the body through bite wounds or other skin, eye or mouth injuries.

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The disease is not spread from person to person or through casual contact with infected people or animals.

However, people can contract the disease through organ transplants, by eating uncooked food contaminated with poo from an infected kissing insect and by accidental exposure in the laboratory.

A pregnant woman can also transmit Chagas disease to her baby. However, the CDC states that it is safe for a mother with Chagas disease to breastfeed unless the mother has cracked nipples or blood in her breast milk.

Bedbugs kissing are mainly active at night and are found under porches, under cement, in outdoor birdhouses or kennels, in rodent nests or animal burrows or in hen houses. If they penetrate inside, they can hide in cracks and holes in floors, walls, beds or other furniture.

Insects are usually found in places where rats, mice, armadillos, raccoons or opossums are abundant.

To protect yourself, seal cracks around the house, clean brush or stone piles near the house, use mosquito nets on windows and doors, and allow pets to sleep indoors at night.

If you find a bug that you think is a virus that kisses you, do not touch it and do not overwrite it. The CDC recommends placing a container on top of the bug, sliding it inside and then filling the container with alcohol to burn. You can also freeze the bug in the container if you do not have any alcohol to burn.

Clean all surfaces that may have been in contact with the insect with a solution of one part bleach to nine parts water.

Then you can bring the virus to your local health department or university lab for identification.

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