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DETROIT – Health officials said the dangerous "kiss virus" seemed to be moving north, which is not good news for Michigan residents.
"I think it's weird, weird and scary," said a resident.
This is the reaction of most people to the virus. The name comes from their tendency to bite humans on the face and lips, sometimes while they are sleeping.
The real danger lies not in the sting, but in the excrement of a parasite.
"When patients are sleepy, and they scrub the skin where the insect bit them, they will accidentally rub the (faeces) where the body bit them into the wound, and this is how you contract Chagas disease, "said one expert.
The consequences of Chagas disease can be devastating.
"Over the years, it can destroy the nerves that nourish different parts of your body, so your heart, your esophagus, your colon," said one expert.
A map of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates states where cases have been reported, including Indiana and Ohio.
Officials from the American Heart Association said that at least 300,000 people in the United States were affected by Chagas disease, but most contracted the disease while they were living or traveling in the United States. Central America or South America, where kisses are common.
"It's the most common cause of rhythm disorders, heart rhythm disorders in South America," said one expert.
In places where insects kiss, pesticides can be used to keep them away. Experts also recommend sealing windows and keeping garbage, as well as stacks of wood and rocks, away from homes.
Experts have said that the reason why insects seem to spread north is unclear. The only reassuring news is that kosher insects from North America are less likely to contract Chagas disease than those found in Central America or South America.
Copyright 2019 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit – All rights reserved.
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