‘Kissing Bug’ Disease Is Spreading in These States: How Homeowners Can Protect Themselves

The triatomine insect—better known as the “kissing bug”—has been making headlines this month for its link to Chagas disease, an illness that can cause long-term health complications if left untreated.

Reports of cases are rising across several U.S. states, prompting public health officials to label it as an endemic illness.

For homeowners, understanding where kissing bugs thrive, how to keep them out of the home, and what to do if exposure happens is essential. Thankfully, experts we spoke to agreed there were ways to keep your home and love ones—including furry friends—safe.

Where kissing bug disease is spreading and why it’s being labeled endemic

According to a recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report, the kissing bug has been reported in 32 states as of this week, mostly in the southern region of the U.S.

Additionally, cases of Chagas disease have been reported in eight states: Texas, California, Arizona, Tennessee, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi and Arkansas.

Researchers in the CDC report say Chagas disease is present at levels in the U.S. high enough to qualify as endemic, or regularly occurring.

Rising temperatures and shifting migration patterns have created favorable conditions for Chagas-transmitting kissing bugs and extended the disease’s reach well beyond its traditional range.

"As environmental changes occur, so will the movement or expansion of this insect," says entomologist David Price, vice-president of strategic growth at Mosquito Joe. "Even if your state hasn't been affected yet, people should stay aware and enact prevention strategies."

Where kissing bugs typically live and how likely they are to enter homes

Kissing bugs often live beneath porches or structures, under cement, in wood or brush piles, and in outdoor doghouses and chicken coops, according to the CDC. In other words, these insects thrive in dark areas in outside of the home.

Price adds kissing bugs often feed on animals such as dogs, raccoons, opossums, coyotes, and livestock before moving closer to homes.

Because most houses in the United States have plastered walls and are well-insulated, "the actual risk of kissing bugs coming inside U.S. houses is normally low," says Price.

In Mexico and throughout Central and South America, however, adobe, mud, and straw houses often have wall cracks that allow the insects inside. These bugs prosper in the region’s warm climate, putting people in low-income communities—especially those in substandard housing—at greater risk of Chagas disease.

How to prevent and treat kissing bug infestations in the yard

Trenton Frazer, lead entomologist at Aptive Pest Control, says there are ways to prevent kissing bugs from getting into your home, including sealing cracks and installing screens on windows and doors.

Kissing bugs are attracted to bright lights, so turning off outside lights at night can help keep them away from your house, as well.

Frazer notes that insecticides can be used to help prevent kissing bugs. However, if you see them around your home, he advises contacting a licensed pest professional for accurate identification and safe treatment.

There are also yard maintenance habits that can reduce your risk, like keeping vegetation trimmed back, removing outdoor animal beds, and clearing brush piles, rock piles, and excessive leaves from around your home to eliminate potential hiding places. 

Symptoms of Chagas disease and what to do if exposed

At this time, there are no vaccines or drugs that can prevent Chagas disease.

Dr. Annie DePasquale, founder and CEO of Collaborating Docs, says early symptoms of Chagas disease include fever, fatigue, swelling at the bite site, one-sided eyelid swelling, headache, rash, and sometimes swollen lymph nodes.

"But many people have no symptoms," she warns. "Testing is needed to know for sure."

Without treatment, a chronic infection may develop. Dr. Pamela Tambini, medical director of Engage Wellness, says that can include heart issues such as an enlarged heart, irregular heartbeat, or heart failure. It can also cause digestive problems like an enlarged esophagus or colon, which can lead to trouble eating or going to the bathroom.

If you suspect you've been exposed, getting tested by a doctor as soon as possible is essential, since treatment works best when started early.

"Save the insect safely using gloves and a zip-lock bag for identification," advises Dr. DePasquale. "Public health departments or university extension services can often identify the bug."

According to the CDC, there are two main types of treatments, including antiparasitic treatment which kills the parasite that causes Chagas disease, and symptomatic treatment that manages the symptoms and signs of infection.

"When treated early, the outlook for Chagas disease is good," says Dr. DePasquale. "But if untreated, the chronic disease raises long-term cardiac risk."