Various Species of the Deadly ‘Kissing Bug’ Reported in Alabama

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that the pest known as the “kissing bug” has now been reported in both Georgia and Alabama.

'Kissing bugs" are also known as conenose bugs, assassin bugs or triatomines. They get the name "kissing bug" because they generally bite people on their faces and lips during the night.

The parasite they leave behind causes Chagas disease. According to the Mayo Clinic,

Chagas (CHAH-gus) disease is an inflammatory, infectious disease caused by a parasite found in the feces of the triatomine (reduviid) bug.

Also called American trypanosomiasis, Chagas disease can infect anyone, but is diagnosed most often in children. Left untreated, Chagas disease later can cause serious heart and digestive problems.

Treatment of Chagas disease focuses on killing the parasite in acute infection and managing signs and symptoms in later stages. You can take steps to prevent the infection, too.

The pests have been reported in at least 26 southeastern states and Hawaii since 2013. They can be found:

• Beneath porches
• Between rocky structures
• Under cement
• In rock, wood, brush piles, or beneath bark
• In rodent nests or animal burrows
• In outdoor dog houses or kennels
• In chicken coops or houses

To keep the insects away from your home, the CDC asks that you take the following precautions:

• Seal cracks and gaps around windows, walls, roofs, and doors
• Remove wood, brush, and rock piles near your house
• Use screens on doors and windows and repairing any holes or tears
• Sealing holes and cracks leading to the attic, crawl spaces below the house, and to the outside
• Having pets sleep indoors, especially at night
• Keeping your house and any outdoor pet resting areas clean, in addition to periodically checking both areas for the presence of bugs

If you should encounter one of the bugs, the CDC recommends,

Please do not touch or squash the bug. Place a container on top of the bug, slide the bug inside, and fill it with rubbing alcohol or, if not available, freeze the bug in the container. Then, you may take it to your local extension service, health department, or a university laboratory for species identification. In the event that none of these resources is available in your area, you may contact CDC’s Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria (parasites@cdc.gov) for species identification or T. cruzi testing.

Any material containing bug parts or feces should also be submitted for testing, preferably in a plastic bag or clean sealable container. Surfaces that have come into contact with the bug should be cleaned with a solution made of 1 part bleach to 9 parts water (or 7 parts ethanol to 3 parts water)