Chagas disease, a neglected tropical disease caused by the Trypanosoma cruzi parasite, affects over 10 million people globally and results in around 10,000 deaths annually. It is primarily transmitted by the vinchuca bug and has significant economic impacts in Latin America, with losses due to absenteeism and decreased productivity. Effective prevention and treatment methods are limited, highlighting the need for increased research and funding to combat this public health issue.

1. Chagas:
A neglected disease

2. NTDs are:
Neglected Tropical
Chagas is a NTD
Di seases

3. These diseases, also known as forgotten,
affect the most vulnerable populations who have limited public voice
NTDs have an ENORMOUS
impact on individuals, families
and communities in low-income
countries

4. One in 6 people on the
planet... suffers from
some kind of NTD...”
Joaquim Gascon, Director of the Neglected Tropical Diseases Initiatives, ISGlobal

5. There are
17
NTD

6. 1. Dracunculosis
2. Lymphatic filariasis
3. Onchocercosis
4. Schistosomiasis
5. Soil-transmitted helminthes
6. Cysticercosis / Taeniasis
7. Echinococcosis in humans
8. Trachoma causing blindness
9. Fascioliasis
NTDs17
10. Peripheral vascular disease
11. Dengue
12. Rabies
13. Cutaneous and mucocutaneous
leishmaniasis/ Visceral leishmaniasis
14. Leprosy
15. Buruli ulcer
16. Chagas Disease
17. Human African Trypanosomiasis

7. Chagas is caused
by a parasite The Trypanosoma cruzi
(T. cruzi)
and transmitted to people
via the vector insect:
the vinchuca bug or
barbeiro, chinche,
chipo, pito

8. Globalization of Chagas
Chagas is endemic in
Latin America, BUT due
to an increase in
people mobility…

9. ...it is now present in:
Canada
>5,500
USA
>300,000
Europe
>80,000
Japan
>3,000
Australia
>1,500

10. Chagas causes 10,000 deaths per year Chagas
Global

11. An estimated 10 million people are infected Chagas
Global

12. 75-90 millions of people are at risk of infection
Chagas
Global

13. Chagas
is a
global
public health
problem

14. Kinds of
transmission
Vector
(insects)
Transfusions/
transplants
(blood/organs)
Congenital
(from infected mother
to newborn) Oral
(food or drink
contaminated by a
vector insect)

15. The Chagas Cycle :
TRANSMISSION
ACUTE
PHASE
CHRONIC
PHASE
WITHOUT DIAGNOSIS
OR TREATMENT
2 Months
Period of 20-30 years
without symptoms
25-30%
of those chronically infected develop
heart complications
10-20% of those
chronically infected develop
digestive
complications
60% of those
infected by the T.
cruzi parasite are
asymptomatic
Their entire lives
Vector
Transfusions/
transplants
Congenital
Oral
10,000 deaths from Chagas each
year

16. Economic
Impact
in Latin America:
The World Bank has classified
Chagas disease as one of the
main public health problems of
the Latin America region, where
it is more prevalent than Malaria
or Dengue
In Brasil, absence of workers with Chagas has caused losses of 5.6 million
USD.
752,000 workdays are lost due to premature deaths
There is a loss of 1,200 million USD in productivity within the 7 countries of the
southern cone
Each year:

17. How
do we fight
Chagas?

18. PREVENTION
CONTROL
TREATMENT
R+D
INFORMATION

19. Prevention
& Control
A vaccine to prevent Chagas doesn’t exist. That’s why it is so
important to know the methods of prevention:
Vector Control
Fumigation of houses where there are vinchuca bugs;
Modification and renovation of the house structure;
Conditioning and reordering of the house interior
Transfusion Control
Risk prevention measures for blood banks to eliminate
the transmission of infected blood
Mother-child transmission Control
Protocols for screening pregnant women, diagnosis and
treatment for children.

20. Treatment
ACUTE PHASE CHRONIC PHASE
In adults and children
over one year, the
disease may be cured
if treated within the first
two months of
infection
With specialized attention, patients may
maintain a better quality of life
Although less effective, the treatment helps
stop the development of the disease’s
complications
And in some cases
may be able to
eliminate the
parasite
In children under one
year, treatment results
in a complete cure

21. 2 Medicines
There are only
TO TREAT CHAGAS:
But they’re not perfect:
TREATMENT MUST BE DONE UNDER A
DOCTOR’S SUPERVISION FOR TWO MONTHS
OF LIMITED ACCESS
NOT VERY EFFECTIVE IN THE CHRONIC PHASE
MAY CAUSE SERIOUS ADVERSE SIDE EFFECTS

22. R + D
WITH MORE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
WE COULD OFFER BETTER:
Medical
Assistance Pharmaceuticals

23. Research & Development
WE NEED MORE
...even though approx.
100 million people are
at risk
Out of the
total 3.063
million US$
only 20 million
are spent on
Chagas
Chagas receives less than
1% of the total budget for the
research of NTD…

24. INFORM
the public about the risks and
preventive measures
WE NEED TO

25. DEVELOP
new pharmaceuticals that are more
secure and effective
WE NEED TO

26. SECURE
the production and
distribution of Benznidazol
WE NEED TO

27. For more
Information:
www.ISGlobal.or
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