Overview

• Locally acquired human infections have been confirmed in eight states, including Texas, California, Arizona, Louisiana, Tennessee, Missouri, Mississippi and Arkansas.
• The authors of the CDC journal review call for a hypoendemic designation to address low awareness and persistent underreporting.
• Chagas disease is not widely a nationally notifiable condition, limiting consistent case tracking and obscuring the true burden.
• Animal reservoirs are widespread, with exposed dogs documented in 23 states and wildlife infections reported in at least 17 states.
• CDC estimates about 280,000 people in the U.S. are living with Chagas, and early antiparasitic treatment is most effective but often delayed.