County health officials have confirmed the region’s first locally acquired case of Chagas disease, identified during routine blood donation screening in a donor without symptoms.
Chagas is much more common in rural areas of Latin America, where the insect that spreads the infection, the kissing bug, hides in homes made of mud and straw. The bug species found in San Diego County typically lives in rodent nests, making camping and outdoor exposure potential risk factors.
“Identifying a locally acquired Chagas case reminds us that this disease is not limited to Latin America,” said Dr. Sayone Thihalilopavan, County Public Health Officer. “Our priority is making sure residents, and healthcare providers have the information they need to stay protected.”…