World Chagas Day targets mother-to-child transmission

Morelia, Michoacán — Health organizations marked World Chagas Day on April 14 with a renewed focus on preventing mother-to-child transmission of the parasitic disease, calling for strengthened screening and treatment programs across the Americas.

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the Global Chagas Coalition emphasized this year’s theme, “Women at the Center: Protecting the Next Generation from Chagas Disease,” highlighting women’s crucial role in early detection, prevention, and care.

Chagas disease, caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, is primarily transmitted through triatomine insect vectors but can also spread through oral, transfusion, and congenital routes. The infection often shows no initial symptoms but can lead to serious cardiac and digestive complications years or decades later.

Organizations are now targeting congenital transmission, which occurs when infected mothers pass the parasite to their babies during pregnancy. Health officials estimate that 2 to 8 percent of infected pregnant women transmit the parasite, resulting in approximately 9,000 new congenital cases annually.

“Guaranteeing timely access to quality health services, particularly for women of childbearing age, is fundamental to preventing new infections and advancing toward the elimination of congenital Chagas in the Americas,” health organizations stated.

According to PAHO data, approximately 7.5 million people live with Chagas infection across 21 endemic countries in the Americas, with more than 100 million at risk. The region records about 30,000 new cases and 10,000 deaths associated with the disease each year.

Health experts note that congenital transmission represents one of the main current challenges but also a key opportunity for effective intervention through strengthened maternal-child health screening and guaranteed access to diagnosis and treatment.