We’ve already experienced a surge of ticks this summer, but unfortunately, there’s more bad news when it comes to the bugs that plague West Virginia. There’s a parasitic bug that’s been spotted right here, and its bite can be deadly. Triatomine Sanguisuga is most commonly called “the kissing bug,” which sounds cute, doesn’t it? Don’t be fooled – this little creature is anything but adorable.
The kissing bug is a parasitic insect that sucks the blood of humans and animals. It’s also been called a vampire bug, or an assassin bug.
Judy Gallagher/flickr The bug can be infected with T.cruzi, a parasite that transmits Chagas disease. The disease can have some serious complications, and can even cause death.
Central and South America is the home of most types of triatominae, but kissing bugs have made their way to the United States in recent years, and they’ve made their way to West Virginia.
CDC
The bug gets its name because it often bites humans on the face while they’re sleeping, which is creepy enough, but the way it transmits Chagas disease is even more horrifying.
Rach/flickr As the bug bites, it typically poops on the person’s face. The parasite that carries Chagas disease is found in the Kissing Bug’s poop, and when you rub your face, the bug poop gets into the bite wound or your eye or mouth.
Not everyone who’s bitten by a kissing bug gets Chagas disease, in fact it’s fairly rare. But once you’re infected, it’s important that you get medical treatment soon.
Nora Carol Photography/Getty Images The early symptoms of infection include fever, body aches, loss of appetite, diarrhea, and vomiting, similar to a common flu. One telltale sign is an inflamed eyelid, which can be caused by rubbing the kissing bug’s poop into your eye. If caught early enough, Chagas disease can be treated with an anti-parasitic drug. If not treated within the first few months of infection, the disease is chronic and the infected person will live with symptoms throughout their life. Chronic symptoms include enlarging of the heart, esophagus, or colon, heart failure, and cardiac arrest.
The many different species of Triatominae, can all look a bit different, but it’s pretty easy to recognize the kissing bugs found here in the United States.
Curtis-Robles et al./Wikimedia Commons There are 11 species found here in America, and they’re usually black or dark brown, with orange, yellow, or red stripes along the edge of their wings. They have long antennae and a cone-shaped head.
Kissing bugs like to live near humans and animals, and you may have some in your yard or home.
Youngsoo Bae/EyeEm/Getty Images These parasitic bugs can often be found living in the cracks under porches and foundations, in wood piles, or under cement. They also like to live in chicken coops, and dog houses. Kissing bugs sleep during the heat of the day, and when the air cools off at night, they’re drawn to the heat and odors of animals and humans.
So what you can do to keep yourself safe from these deadly bugs?
laughingmango/Getty Images The Centers for Disease Control suggests that you check your home and porch for cracks and gaps, and seal them up. Clear your property of brush piles or rock piles, and use screens on your windows and doors. Keep your outdoor lighting to a minimum, since the bugs may be drawn toward it.
You can find more information about kissing bugs and Chagas disease on the CDC’s website. Have you seen one of these bugs near your home?
Judy Gallagher/flickr
The bug can be infected with T.cruzi, a parasite that transmits Chagas disease. The disease can have some serious complications, and can even cause death.
CDC
Rach/flickr
As the bug bites, it typically poops on the person’s face. The parasite that carries Chagas disease is found in the Kissing Bug’s poop, and when you rub your face, the bug poop gets into the bite wound or your eye or mouth.
Nora Carol Photography/Getty Images
The early symptoms of infection include fever, body aches, loss of appetite, diarrhea, and vomiting, similar to a common flu. One telltale sign is an inflamed eyelid, which can be caused by rubbing the kissing bug’s poop into your eye. If caught early enough, Chagas disease can be treated with an anti-parasitic drug. If not treated within the first few months of infection, the disease is chronic and the infected person will live with symptoms throughout their life. Chronic symptoms include enlarging of the heart, esophagus, or colon, heart failure, and cardiac arrest.
Curtis-Robles et al./Wikimedia Commons
There are 11 species found here in America, and they’re usually black or dark brown, with orange, yellow, or red stripes along the edge of their wings. They have long antennae and a cone-shaped head.
Youngsoo Bae/EyeEm/Getty Images
These parasitic bugs can often be found living in the cracks under porches and foundations, in wood piles, or under cement. They also like to live in chicken coops, and dog houses. Kissing bugs sleep during the heat of the day, and when the air cools off at night, they’re drawn to the heat and odors of animals and humans.
laughingmango/Getty Images
The Centers for Disease Control suggests that you check your home and porch for cracks and gaps, and seal them up. Clear your property of brush piles or rock piles, and use screens on your windows and doors. Keep your outdoor lighting to a minimum, since the bugs may be drawn toward it.
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