9/18/25

Kissing bugs spreading throughout the U.S. with the Chagas disease; they are attracted to the carbon dioxide from breathing, usually going for the face, which is why they are called ‘’kisser bugs’’

There are ways to try and prevent them from getting inside your house: securing your home and sealing up gaps around doors and baseboards. You can also keep your yard tidy by removing wild animal nests, poop, trash and wood piles to try and discourage other animals and bugs from staying near your house

A 3rd way to help keep the kisser/kissing bugs away from your house is to not always leave your outdoor lights on throughout the night, as keeping them on can attract the bugs.

The last way to help keep the bugs away from your house is to check outdoor pets, as they can inadvertently bring kisser/kissing bugs into your house.

If you live in the far northern states, you are most likely safe from the kisser/kissing bugs, but if you are in the middle states from east, south and west, you are more likely to get bitten by a kissing bug. About 55% of kissing bugs are infected with the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, which causes the Chagas disease. Kissing bugs also like to suck the blood out of animals and humans, mostly when we are sleeping. The symptoms of the Chagas disease are swelling around the bite site, fever, fatigue, headache, body aches, swollen lymph nodes, nausea/vomiting and diarrhea. The Chronic Phases (years after infection) include the following: Heart problems, like an enlarged heart; irregular heartbeat; heart failure; digestive problems, like enlarged esophagus or colon; difficulty swallowing; neurological problems, like confusion and/or seizures; and even death. You can also get skin rashes, joint pain, constipation, and even weight loss.