Elvira Rodríguez never imagined a tiny insect could threaten her unborn child. But when she tested positive for Chagas disease during pregnancy, her world turned upside down. Thanks to prompt treatment, her baby was spared—but not everyone is so lucky.
Chagas, transmitted by blood-sucking “kissing bugs,” is a growing concern beyond Latin America. These bugs hide in cracks and crevices, emerging at night to feed. Their bite isn’t the real danger—it’s their feces, which can carry a parasite that causes lifelong illness if it enters the body.
Hernández Cuevas learned this the hard way when her 18-year-old son was diagnosed after a routine blood donation. Shocked, she discovered how little doctors knew about the disease, even in Mexico where it’s prevalent. The World Health Organization classifies Chagas as a neglected tropical disease, leaving millions without proper care.
With symptoms often silent for decades, many don’t realize they’re infected until heart or digestive damage appears. Treatment is harsh and less effective in adults, leaving prevention as the best defense.
If you see a kissing bug—oval-shaped, with striped edges—act fast. Your health, and your family’s, may depend on it.
