Chagas disease is found predominantly in which geographic region?

Chagas disease is found predominantly in which geographic region?

• A. The American continents
• B. Africa
• C. Southeast Asia
• D. Europe

Answer: (A)

Chagas disease is endemic to the American continents, especially rural areas of Central and South America where the triatomine (kissing bug) vectors are common and bring the Trypanosoma cruzi parasite into humans. The disease is not established at population level in Africa, Southeast Asia, or Europe, where those vectors and transmission cycles aren’t present. While cases can occur outside the Americas due to travel or migration, the highest, ongoing transmission occurs in the Americas.

Chagas disease is endemic to the American continents, especially rural areas of Central and South America where the triatomine (kissing bug) vectors are common and bring the Trypanosoma cruzi parasite into humans. The disease is not established at population level in Africa, Southeast Asia, or Europe, where those vectors and transmission cycles aren’t present. While cases can occur outside the Americas due to travel or migration, the highest, ongoing transmission occurs in the Americas.