What is Chagas disease?

Also called American trypanosomiasis (tri-PAN-o-SO-my-a-sis), Chagas disease is an infection caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. It is named after Carlos Chagas, a Brazilian doctor who first described the disease in 1909. The distribution of the disease is confined to South America, Central America and Mexico where competent vectors live. It is estimated that 16-18 million people are infected with Chagas disease; of those infected, 50,000 will die each year.