Deadly "Kissing Bug" Reported by CDC

The "kissing bug," has been found in Georgia according to the CDC. The bug can carry a parasite in its feces that can cause a deadly disease.

Triatomine bugs feed on the blood of mammals, including humans, and sometimes carry a parasite that causes Chagas disease — which, if left untreated, can cause sudden death, according to the CDC.

There are two drugs to treat Chagas, though the disease can become serious if left untreated, and about 30 percent of people with Chagas develop serious heart problems. However, there's a low chance in the United States of getting Chagas from a triatomine bug, according to the CDC.

Worldwide, Chagas kills approximately 12,000 people a year, according to the World Health Organization.

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READ MORE ABOUT CHAGAS DISEASE

triatomine bug



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