NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — A bug known as the “kissing bug” is appearing throughout the lower half of the United States, including Tennessee. It can carry a serious disease.
“We call [them] kissing bugs, and the reason we call them that is that they kind of bite us when people are sleeping, and often, since we are sleeping, they kiss us on the face,” Dr. William Schaffner with Vanderbilt University Medical Center said.
Originally from Central and South America, experts say climate change has pushed them into southern states. Some of these bugs carry Chagas disease.
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“If you get a bite on your face and you get swelling and swollen lymph glands and you feel poorly — fever is not a very important part of this — obviously, see your doctor,” Schaffner said…