
San Diego County Detects First Local Case of Chagas Disease
San Diego County health officials announced the region's first locally acquired case of Chagas disease, found through routine blood donor screening from an asymptomatic donor. Chagas is caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi and spread by kissing bugs; local transmission is now recognized in parts of the United States. The county began requiring reporting in 2024, and this case marks the first acquired locally in San Diego. Public health guidance emphasizes prevention (protective clothing, insect repellent, indoor sleeping, treated nets) and screening for at-risk groups, including pregnant women, with researchers suggesting the disease may be more common in the U.S. than previously thought.












