Disease-carrying ‘kissing bugs’ are in NC. Info about the dangerous insects
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Kissing bug sounds like it might be a cute nickname. But the insects are parasitic, with a preference for drinking blood from the face — especially the lips and eyes.
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The triatomine bug, often called the kissing bug, carries a parasite that causes Chagas disease, which can cause severe heart and digestive problems. Triatomine bugs are found in North Carolina, but don’t panic. Experts say the odds of contracting Chagas from a kissing bug in North Carolina are slim, and that residents don’t need to worry.
About 8 million people, including an estimated 280,000 in the United States, have Chagas disease, according to the CDC. Many are unaware they have it. Chagas cases are usually found in Central and South America, and along the United States border.
Christopher Hayes, an assistant professor and extension specialist at NC State, said North Carolinians don’t need to worry, though they may occasionally see kissing bugs.
“I don’t know the last time, or if we have ever had a positive case of Chagas in North Carolina from someone that hasn’t traveled. I’m sure there’s been some positive travel-associated cases, but people who live in Texas, for example, are at much higher risk of contracting Chagas from kissing bugs,” Hayes said.
North Carolinians may begin to see more kissing bugs eventually. Milder winters and higher heat are great for many pests endemic to locations further South, he said, as they kill off fewer pests, including kissing bugs and ticks.
“As temperatures continue to increase, winters become more and more mild in North Carolina, we’re going to see potential pests from these more warm areas like Florida and Texas and Louisiana,” Hayes said. “They’re going to do well here in North Carolina because of the heat, but also because we have really high humidity here, and insects typically thrive in high heat, high humid environments.”
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Early Chagas symptoms may be mild or not show up at all, which can make it hard to diagnose.
According to the CDC:
After initial symptoms subside, Chagas disease can cause chronic health problems, sometimes spanning the duration of a patient’s life.
According to the CDC, 20-30% of patients develop:
“People make the mistake of believing when the swelling goes away that they’re better or that it’s gone, and that’s not the case,” Hayes said. “That means it has gone into a more chronic phase where it can have long-term impacts on the heart and other things like that, so you just always want to seek medical attention if you think you’ve been exposed.”
Given the bug’s propensity for drinking from people’s faces, many bites occur while people are asleep. Hayes said this is one reason North Carolina’s Chagas disease risk is low; North Carolinians generally have window screens to keep out other critters anyway. You’re more likely to encounter them camping, spending the night outdoors in an unprotected environment.
If you are worried about the kissing bugs, The Charlotte Observer has previously reported on a few preventative measures you may take.
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