A new study dubbes Chagas disease the "new AIDS of the Americas."

Chagas disease, which is caused by parasites transmitted to humans by blood-sucking insects, is spreading throughout the continent in a similar way the HIV/AIDS pandemic did early on.

The parasitic infection is also hard to detect and has a long incubation period before symptoms emerge, according to the study in the PLos Neglected Tropical Diseases published Tuesday.

About 10 million people live with Chagas disease mostly in South and Central America in countries such as Bolivia, Mexico, Colombia and Central America. However due to immigration, an estimated 300,000 people infected live in the U.S.

Scientists say that people infected with Chagas often are reluctant to seek medical help which leads to increased spread of the disease.

Treatment is not as expensive as AIDS drugs, but poor countries have short supplies. Difficult access to essential medicines are challenges that occurred in the early years of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

Another similarity is that people infected receive prolonged treatments, often harsh drugs for up to three months.

Chagas disease can be transmitted from mother to child or by blood transfusion. Some of its victims develop enlarged hearts or intestines which can stop working properly or burst causing sudden death.

Symptoms:

Chagas disease has two phases: acute and chronic. The acute phase may have no symptoms or very mild symptoms. Symptoms include:

Fever

General ill feeling (malaise)

Swelling of one eye

Swollen red area at site of insect bite

After the acute phase, the disease goes into remission. No other symptoms may appear for many years. When symptoms finally develop, they may include:

Constipation

Digestive problems

Pain in the abdomen

Swallowing difficulties

How To Prevent Chagas Disease?

Control insects with insecticides and houses that are less likely to have high insect populations will help control the spread of the disease.

Blood banks should screen donors for exposure to the parasite. Most blood banks in the United States began screening for Chagas disease in 2007.

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