Chagas Disease, the new HIV/AIDS, & the superbug making it's way north

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Living in Corpus Christi, I have seen these bugs around all over the place.

Chagas Disease, an incurable infection, called the

Here in Texas, we call them "chinche" bugs.

Apparently because of the warming climate, these bugs are moving northward. The CDC says that about 300,000 people in the USA have this disease with the majority of them in Texas - about 30,000.
  • Profile picture of the author Dennis Gaskill
    That is one yucky looking bug. It's hard to tell how big it is in the photo. About the size of a wood tick, maybe?
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    • Profile picture of the author flowbee77
      Originally Posted by Dennis Gaskill View Post

      That is one yucky looking bug. It's hard to tell how big it is in the photo. About the size of a wood tick, maybe?
      They are also called Kissing Bugs or Assassin Bugs and can vary in size. Some of them can be quite large.

      Triatominae - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chagas
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      • Profile picture of the author seasoned
        Originally Posted by flowbee77 View Post

        They are also called Kissing Bugs or Assassin Bugs and can vary in size. Some of them can be quite large.

        Triatominae - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

        Chagas disease - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
        They have been around a LONG time! They work like mosquitos in that they need to drink blood to reproduce, and fund a target by following CO2. That is why they tend to bit around the lips, and get the name kissing bug. But ALL of the bugs are multiplying LIKE CRAZY, and spreading all over.

        Steve
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        • Profile picture of the author MissTerraK
          Creepy!

          The first thing I wanted to do when I saw that picture was squash it!

          So, it needs warm climates and therefore I'm safe way up north, here in Michigan?

          Ugh, I hope I don't get nightmares, lol!

          Terra
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          • Profile picture of the author flowbee77
            Originally Posted by MissTerraK View Post

            Creepy!

            The first thing I wanted to do when I saw that picture was squash it!

            So, it needs warm climates and therefore I'm safe way up north, here in Michigan?

            Ugh, I hope I don't get nightmares, lol!

            Terra
            Yes they are prevalent in warmer climates, the reason is because of the availability of food for them. Check out this article:

            With climate change, US could face risk from Chagas disease

            They are slowly making there way North though. They already have a foothold in South Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and Southern California.

            The worrisome aspect of this disease is that you could get bit one day and not know you have Chagas for decades until it is too late.
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          • Profile picture of the author seasoned
            Originally Posted by MissTerraK View Post

            Creepy!

            The first thing I wanted to do when I saw that picture was squash it!

            So, it needs warm climates and therefore I'm safe way up north, here in Michigan?

            Ugh, I hope I don't get nightmares, lol!

            Terra
            NOPE!!!!!! They come up in summer, or travel in things, and LOVE your warm home!

            Steve
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            • Profile picture of the author MissTerraK
              Originally Posted by seasoned View Post

              NOPE!!!!!! They come up in summer, or travel in things, and LOVE your warm home!

              Steve
              I'll have to keep the air conditioner set to freezing, lol! :p

              Terra
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        • Profile picture of the author flowbee77
          Originally Posted by seasoned View Post

          They have been around a LONG time! They work like mosquitos in that they need to drink blood to reproduce, and fund a target by following CO2. That is why they tend to bit around the lips, and get the name kissing bug. But ALL of the bugs are multiplying LIKE CRAZY, and spreading all over.

          Steve
          Yes, I remember them when I was a child. They are all over the place in the southwest. Here in Texas they call them the "chinche" bugs because of the belief that they give off a pungent odor when you squash them.
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  • Profile picture of the author thunderbird
    Originally Posted by flowbee77 View Post

    Living in Corpus Christi, I have seen these bugs around all over the place.

    Chagas Disease, an incurable infection, called the

    Here in Texas, we call them "chinche" bugs.

    Apparently because of the warming climate, these bugs are moving northward. The CDC says that about 300,000 people in the USA have this disease with the majority of them in Texas - about 30,000.
    That is terrible. I knew about Chagas Disease when I was in Argentina. It is spread by a species of the Assassin Bug. It has a head that looks like a syringe which it sticks into its victim to inject toxin and paralyze it. It is said that its bite feels like an electrical shock. Apparently, Darwin suffered horribly from the disease for many years and eventually died from it.
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    • Profile picture of the author Kay King
      And this is how we come to a conundrum.

      There are groups that strongly protest use of pesticides...but that is the only way to fight these insects.
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  • Profile picture of the author HeySal
    Then they need to be fought with their natural predators.

    Insects are one of the most important bases in an ecosystem - when things go wrong with them, it starts a chain reaction that can eventually topple the whole system. It's best to fight them with their own enemies.

    Incidentally - a LOT of animals are not actually "migrating" due to weather. Some are being brought in with illegals crossing over - some are moving because of land clearing (their natural food sources are becoming scarce). It's not warming any longer so there's only so far North these things are going to get unless they are able to adapt and survive in weather colder than they are used to.
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    Sal
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    Beyond the Path

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