Kissing Bug Disease Spreading Faster In Texas This Year

It's got a cute name but it's anything but cute. The CDC is reporting of a rise in Kissing Bug Disease in Texas. The kissing bug, a flat black insect with red stripes that sounds harmless enough by name, is carrying something a lot scarier than a weird bite. Health experts say cases of Chagas disease, the illness linked to kissing bugs, are on the rise in Texas, and it’s officially being called an emerging threat.

What is Chagas Disease?

Chagas disease is caused by a parasite that lives inside infected kissing bugs. According to the CDC, there are two stages of the illness: acute and chronic. The acute phase can last a few weeks or even a few months, and while some people don’t notice any symptoms at all, others can feel things like fever, fatigue, body aches, headaches, rashes, loss of appetite, or even vomiting.

The real danger comes later. About one in three people move on to the chronic phase, which can take years, even decades, to develop. That’s when the infection can cause serious heart and digestive problems. And here’s the kicker: there’s no vaccine for Chagas disease. Doctors can treat it with medicine that helps kill the parasite and ease symptoms, but prevention is still the best defense.

How do Kissing Bugs Spread it?

Here’s the gross part: it’s not actually the bite that makes people sick. When a kissing bug bites, it often leaves behind infected feces. If someone scratches the bite or rubs near the wound, they can accidentally push the parasite into their skin. That’s how the infection happens, not from the bug’s saliva, but from what it leaves behind.

Texas A&M researchers say about half of all kissing bugs tested in the state carry the parasite. The insects earned their “kissing bug” nickname because they often bite around the mouth or eyes while people are asleep, but really, they’ll bite anywhere they can get to. They’re about the size of a quarter, flat and black with red or orange stripes on the sides, and they’re drawn to lights at night, which makes Texas porches and backyards a perfect target.

Where are cases showing up in Texas?

The CDC estimates about 280,000 people in the U.S. are living with Chagas disease, and Texas is where it shows up the most. Between 2013 and 2016, the Texas Department of State Health Services reported 91 cases across the state- though experts warn the real number is probably higher since many people don’t even know they’re infected.

What Texans should know

While the thought of kissing bugs creeping around is unsettling, the best thing Texans can do is stay aware. These bugs are most active at night and are drawn to outdoor lights, so keeping porches and patios well-sealed and reducing light exposure can help. If you think you’ve been bitten and start noticing unusual symptoms, it’s worth checking in with a doctor- especially since Chagas can go unnoticed for years.

There’s no need to panic, but it’s a reminder that in Texas, even the bugs come with a little extra danger. Keep the bug spray handy, watch those porch lights, and maybe think twice before calling something with “kissing” in its name harmless.