Oct. 1, 2025 — If you recently learned about “kissing bug” disease, you’re not alone.
The parasitic infection — which is actually called Chagas disease but earned the nickname because it’s spread by so-called kissing bugs, or triatomine bugs — drew public attention recently after a new CDC report suggested it is now endemic in the U.S. (a significant upgrade from its previous status of “nobody knows what this is”).
Is it really a big deal? Experts say the risk is low. But it’s smart to keep your antennae up, especially if you live in a southern state and spend time outdoors. That’s because of another little-publicized fact: The infection can lurk silently for decades before leading to serious (even deadly) complications like heart failure or an enlarged colon.
Unlike more common insect-borne diseases, like Lyme disease and West Nile virus, Chagas isn’t required by law to be reported to health authorities, meaning it’s very likely undercounted in the United States. Research suggests that less than 1% of people infected in the U.S. get testing and treatment.
That matters because treatment can head off those serious problems. “Early intervention can either prevent or halt the progression of Chagas disease,” said Norman Beatty, MD, associate professor of medicine at the University of Florida College of Medicine and a co-author of the CDC report.
