US Health officials have declared Chagas disease, a potentially deadly infection spread by the ‘kissing bugs’, an endemic. These bugs have been found in 32 states, and at least eight Americans have caught the disease from local transmission. This has led scientists to urge the CDC and the WHO to officially declare the illness as endemic in the U.S., which means it's a disease that is naturally present in the region. Experts believe that over 300,000 people in the U.S. may have Chagas disease, but very few of them know it.

What Is Chagas Disease?

According to UCLA Health, Chagas disease, a potentially life-threatening condition, is most commonly spread by the “kissing bug,” which gets its name because it tends to bite people on the face while they sleep. After biting, the bug defecates on the skin, leaving behind a parasite called T. cruzi. When the person scratches the itchy bite, they accidentally rub the parasite into the wound, and that's how it enters the bloodstream. Chagas disease can also be passed from a pregnant person to their baby, through organ transplants and blood transfusions, or by eating uncooked food that has been contaminated with the parasite.

Is Chagas Disease Contagious?

No, the Cleveland Clinic explains that this disease cannot spread from person to person. Many people with Chagas disease have no symptoms at all, which is why it's often called a "silent disease." In the early stage, which lasts about two months, some people might experience a swollen eyelid, fever, or body aches, but these symptoms are easily mistaken for other common illnesses.

Also Read: RFK Jr., at vaccine hearings, claims ‘We Were Lied To About Everything Around COVID.’

Over a person’s lifetime, about 20% of those infected will develop serious, long-term problems, most often affecting the heart. Chagas disease can slowly damage the heart, leading to an enlarged heart, heart failure, or even a heart attack. It can also cause digestive problems, like an enlarged colon.

How Big Are Kissing Bugs?

According to Texas A&M University, Kissing bugs are nocturnal insects that feed on blood. They are typically 1/2 to 1 inch long. Throughout their two-year lifespan, they bite people, dogs, and other animals multiple times to feed. Bites usually go unnoticed and do not attach like ticks.

What Are Signs And Symptoms of Chagas Disease?

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Chagas disease happens in two main stages. For most people, the first stage goes unnoticed, but it can lead to very serious problems later on.

The First Stage

This early phase lasts for about two months after a person is infected. Most people have no symptoms at all, or they experience mild, general symptoms that could be caused by anything else, such as a fever, headache, muscle pain, or swelling. In rare cases, a person might see a specific sign, like a skin sore where they were bitten, or a purple swelling of one eyelid.

The Second Stage

The second stage of the disease can last for a person's entire life. During this time, the parasites hide mainly in the heart and muscles of the digestive system. About 10 to 30 years after being infected, up to a third of people will develop serious heart problems, and up to 1 in 10 will have digestive issues, such as an enlarged food pipe or colon. Over time, this can lead to an irregular heartbeat, slow heart failure, and in some cases, sudden death.

How To Treat Chagas Disease?

Anti-parasite medications are only effective at treating Chagas disease during its very early stage. Once the disease has been in the body for a while, there is no cure, though symptoms of heart failure can be managed with medication or even a heart transplant.

Doctors recommend that anyone who is from or has traveled to Latin America and begins to experience heart problems should be tested for Chagas disease. It's also worth noting that the U.S. blood supply has been tested for Chagas since 2007.

How Can We Prevent Chagas Disease?

WHO explains that because Chagas disease is carried by "kissing bugs" and is so widespread among wild animals throughout the Americas, it's not possible to completely wipe it out. Instead, public health efforts are focused on stopping the disease from spreading to humans, making sure infected people get diagnosed early, and providing them with lifelong medical care. To prevent the spread of Chagas disease, health organizations recommend a few key approaches:

Controlling the bugs

This is considered the most effective way to prevent the disease. It includes spraying homes and surrounding areas with bug-killing chemicals and making sure houses are built and kept clean to prevent the insects from living in cracks in the walls.

Personal protection

People can protect themselves with personal measures like using bed nets and practicing good hygiene when handling food.

Screening donors

Screening blood donors is necessary to prevent the disease from spreading through blood transfusions and organ transplants.

Checking newborns

It is also important to test newborns and other children of infected mothers, as the disease can be passed during pregnancy.

Polio is a contagious viral illness that can lead to paralysis, making its complete eradication important to protect every child from lifelong disability, a mission recognised each year on World Polio Day. This global observance aims to spread awareness about the dangers of polio and the continued worldwide push to end the disease.

The day also serves as a platform for governments, health organisations, and communities to reflect on the progress achieved so far, identify ongoing challenges, and strengthen collective efforts toward a polio-free world. Let’s take a look at when World Polio Day is observed and what this year’s theme focuses on.

Why Is World Polio Day Celebrated?

World Polio Day, observed every year on October 24, aims to raise global awareness about the importance of eradicating polio and maintaining immunization efforts. Recognized by organizations such as the World Health Organization, Rotary International, and UNICEF, the day celebrates the progress made against polio while highlighting the work still needed to protect children from this potentially life-threatening disease.

It brings together governments, communities, educators, and health workers in a shared effort to support a polio-free world, underscoring the power of vaccination and the importance of collective action in public health.

World Polio Day: History and Origin

World Polio Day was created to honor Dr. Jonas Salk, who developed the first effective poliomyelitis vaccine. The observance was officially initiated by Rotary International and is now supported by the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), which includes key partners like WHO and UNICEF. The day not only commemorates vaccine breakthroughs but also continues the global fight to end polio, a disease that once paralyzed hundreds of thousands of children annually. Thanks to worldwide vaccination campaigns, most of the world is now polio-free, though efforts continue in regions where the virus still exists.

World Polio Day 2025 Theme

This year’s theme, End Polio: Every Child, Every Vaccine, Everywhere, emphasizes the urgent need to vaccinate every child and ensure equal access to protection against polio. It is a call to action for global eradication, highlighting both the responsibility and commitment required to make a polio-free world a reality.

How Does Polio Spread?

Polio is mainly transmitted through the faecal-oral route, meaning it spreads when a person consumes food or water contaminated with the virus. It can also spread through close contact with an infected individual. The poliovirus lives in the throat and intestines of those infected, and poor sanitation, unsafe water, and inadequate hygiene greatly increase the risk of transmission, especially in communities with limited access to clean facilities.

In severe cases, polio can lead to acute flaccid paralysis, which may affect the diaphragm and throat muscles, making it difficult to breathe or swallow. Since there is no cure for polio, prevention remains the only line of defence. Raising awareness about polio vaccination is therefore essential to protect individuals, especially children, from this potentially life-threatening disease.

Kim kardashian brain aneurysm: Kim Kardashian has revealed that a routine MRI detected a small brain aneurysm, which doctors linked to the stress of her divorce from Kanye West. The 45-year-old reality TV star shared the news on the season seven premiere of The Kardashians while talking with her sister, Kourtney Kardashian, 46. “They found a little aneurysm,” Kim said, prompting a visibly shocked Kourtney to place her hand over her chest and respond: “Whoa.” Here’s a closer look at what this condition involves and how serious it can be.

Kim Kardashian Hints at Brain Aneurysm After Stressful Divorce

Kim Kardashian, the 45-year-old lifestyle influencer and entrepreneur, recently shared a startling health update on her reality show The Kardashians. During a conversation with her sister on season seven, the SKIMS founder revealed that a brain scan had detected a “little” aneurysm. She reportedly attributed it to the stress of her divorce from rapper Kanye West, the father of her daughter, North.

What Is A Brain Aneurysm?

A brain aneurysm, also called a cerebral or intracranial aneurysm, is a weak or thin spot in the wall of a blood vessel in the brain that balloons out and fills with blood. Many aneurysms remain unruptured and asymptomatic for years, but if they rupture, they can cause a life-threatening stroke known as a subarachnoid haemorrhage, according to the National Library of Medicine. The Mayo Clinic notes that about 85% of aneurysms are found in the brain’s anterior circulation.

Certain individuals are at higher risk, including those with hypertension, genetic disorders, a family history of aneurysms, regular smokers, heavy alcohol users, or infections that affect blood vessels (mycotic aneurysms). Plaque buildup in artery walls can also increase the risk, according to the National Institutes of Health.

What Is A ‘Little’ Brain Aneurysm?

Brain aneurysms are relatively common, but most are not serious, especially if they are small. The majority of aneurysms do not rupture and often do not cause symptoms or health problems. Many are discovered incidentally during scans for unrelated conditions, just like Kim Kardashian’s was found during her routine MRI.

When Kim referred to a “little” brain aneurysm, she meant a small aneurysm, typically under 3 millimeters, which is far less likely to rupture. These tiny, unruptured aneurysms usually produce no symptoms and are often detected by chance during imaging for other medical reasons.

Early Warning Signs Of An Aneurysm

Most brain aneurysms go unnoticed until they leak or rupture. However, as they expand, they can press on nearby nerves, producing early warning signs. Neurologists at the Mayo Clinic list potential symptoms such as persistent, localized headaches often behind the eyes or in the temples, blurred or double vision, and pain behind the eye. Other signs may include a drooping eyelid, unequal pupil size, facial weakness or numbness, slurred speech, and balance problems.

Is A Brain Aneurysm Serious?

Brain aneurysms can be serious, but it largely depends on their size and location. Many small aneurysms, like Kim Kardashian’s “little” one, often remain harmless and may never rupture.

While Kim Kardashian found out about her condition during a routine MRI, doctors can also spot aneurysms through an angiography, which helps detect any unruptured bulges in blood vessels. These are more frequently seen in women between 30 and 60 years old, and when combined with other risk factors, this group is considered higher risk. Physicians recommend managing blood pressure, quitting smoking, and keeping a close watch on vascular health as preventive steps.

Salmonella egg recall: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is urging people to avoid eating, selling, or serving certain eggs from the Black Sheep Egg Company. The Arkansas-based producer voluntarily recalled these eggs last month after concerns about possible Salmonella contamination. The recall, which began in late September, affects over six million eggs nationwide, according to FDA reports.

Which Egg Brands Were Recalled For Salmonella?

Black Sheep Egg Company supplies eggs to both wholesalers and retailers, and some of the recalled eggs may have been repackaged under different brands by other companies. Large shipments were also sent to restaurants and stores. As of October 17, the FDA reports that no illnesses have been linked to this recall.

Despite the recall, thousands of these eggs may still be on store shelves or sitting in your pantry. Here’s what you need to know to stay safe.

Recalled Eggs:

• Black Sheep Egg Company: 12-count cartons of free-range large Grade A brown eggs, best by dates: 8/22/2025–10/31/2025, UPC: 860010568507
• Black Sheep Egg Company: 18-count cartons of free-range large Grade A brown eggs, best by dates: 8/22/2025–10/31/2025, UPC: 860010568538
• Kenz Henz: 12-count cartons of Grade AA large pasture-raised eggs, best by dates: 10/11–10/14 and 10/16–10/17, UPC: 86949400030, sold in retail stores in Houston, TX

What Is Salmonella?

Salmonella refers to the illness caused by Salmonella bacteria, which typically leads to diarrhea, stomach cramps, and other digestive symptoms. This form of food poisoning, known as gastroenteritis, is the most common bacterial foodborne illness in the U.S.

To differentiate it from other diseases caused by different strains of Salmonella, such as typhoid fever, this type of infection is also called salmonellosis.

What Happens If You Get Salmonella?

A Salmonella infection occurs when enough bacteria survive your stomach acid and immune defenses to cause illness. Once inside, the bacteria invade and damage the cells lining your intestines. This interferes with your body’s ability to absorb water, leading to stomach cramps and watery diarrhea as your body tries to flush out the infection, as per Cleveland Clinic.

What Health Risks Do Salmonella-Contaminated Eggs Pose?

Salmonella-contaminated eggs can be particularly dangerous for children, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems. Eating these eggs may cause salmonellosis, with common symptoms including diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps. In severe cases, the infection can require hospitalization and may even be life-threatening for high-risk individuals.

Recent outbreaks linked to contaminated eggs have affected several states, leading producers and retailers to issue recalls under guidance from the FDA and Centers for Disease Control.

Symptoms usually appear within six hours to six days after exposure and can become serious if dehydration or other complications occur. Public health officials recommend discarding recalled eggs, thoroughly washing hands and surfaces, and seeking medical attention if symptoms develop after consuming potentially contaminated eggs.

What to Do If You Have Recalled Eggs

The FDA advises that consumers, restaurants, and retailers should not eat, sell, or serve the recalled eggs. You can either return them to the store for a refund or safely dispose of them.

If you have unlabeled eggs in your fridge and aren’t sure whether they are part of the recall, it’s safest to discard them to avoid any risk of Salmonella infection.