- Chagas disease, caused by a parasite transmitted by 'kissing bugs', has potentially infected between 70,000 and 100,000 Californians, often without their knowledge.
- The illness typically lies dormant for years before manifesting as serious cardiac issues, including heart attacks or strokes, though it is curable if treated early.
- California has the highest number of chagas disease infections in the US, partly due to its large population from countries where the disease is endemic.
- Kissing bugs carrying the parasite are prevalent in various Californian locations, including Griffith Park, where a third of them are infected.
- Cases are likely significantly underreported as doctors are not mandated to report the disease, leading researchers to call for its classification as endemic in the US.
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