A Parasitic Bug Has Been Spotted In Missouri And Its Bite Can Be Deadly
By Beth Price-Williams|Published July 17, 2019
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Beth Price-Williams
Author
A professional writer for more than two decades, Beth has lived in nearly a dozen states – from Missouri and Virginia to Connecticut and Vermont – and Toronto, Canada. In addition to traveling extensively in the U.S. and the U.K., she has a BA in Journalism from Point Park University (PA), a MA in Holocaust & Genocide Studies from Stockton University (NJ), and a Master of Professional Writing from Chatham University (PA). A writer and editor for Only In Your State since 2016, Beth grew up in and currently lives outside of Pittsburgh and when she’s not writing or hanging out with her bunnies, budgies, and chinchilla, she and her daughter are out chasing waterfalls.
Summer’s well underway, and we’ve already dealt with our fair share of mosquitoes, bees, and other insects that emerge when the weather warms up. Another insect – the kissing bug – has also been reported in Missouri. However, although it can lead to the sometimes-fatal Chagas Disease, none of the reported cases have resulted in the disease yet. Still, it’s important to understand what the kissing bug is, the symptoms that result if you’re bitten, and how you can protect yourself against it.
The kissing bug made national news back in April when word broke that a Delaware girl had been bitten in 2018. However, warnings have been issued about the kissing bug in Missouri for several years.
There have also been reports of the kissing bug, which when carrying a parasite can cause Chagas Disease, in the Ozarks. None have carried the parasite to date.
The kissing bug will bite humans, other mammals, birds, and reptiles.
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You’ve likely heard of the kissing bug called one of several other names – blood suckers, cone-nosed bugs, and triatomine. The bug is most commonly found in the southern United States. Yet, it’s been reported as far north as Pennsylvania.
A bite from a kissing bug may lead to nothing, or you may suffer from acute or chronic Chagas Disease, if the bug that bit you is carrying the parasite. Symptoms of acute Chagas Disease range from nausea and vomiting to headaches and body aches, according to the CDC*.
Chronic Chagas Disease can lay dormant for years, but the most severe symptoms may include congestive heart failure, heart attacks, and an irregular heartbeat.
If you suspect you’ve been bitten by the kissing bug, contact your doctor immediately.
Think you’ve spotted a kissing bug? Do not touch or squash it as it can spread the disease, if it’s carrying the parasite. Instead, use gloves or something over your hands; put it in a plastic bag, and place it in the freezer.
Take the kissing bug – in the bag – to your doctor, who can send it to the appropriate place for testing.
Kissing bugs are most active at night. You might find them in a variety of places outdoors – in brush, beneath porches, under concrete, and in rodent nests.
Make sure kissing bugs can’t find their way into your home – through open windows (use screens), and through holes in screens (patch the holes), for example.
Had you heard about the kissing bug before? Join the conversation in the comments! Since we’re on the topic of bugs, check out the 10 bugs found in Missouri that just might send shivers down your spine. Click here to read more.
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