The kiss of death
Subtitle: Chaga's disease in the Americas
By: Joseph William Bastien.
Publisher: University of Utah Press
Published: 1998
Place of publication: Salt Lake City
Language: eng
Number of pages: 301
Subjects: Chagas' disease -- Bolivia -- Epidemiology.; Chagas' disease -- Latin America -- Epidemiology.; Chagas' disease -- Social aspects -- Bolivia.; Chagas' disease -- Social aspects -- Latin America.; Chagas' disease -- Bolivia -- Prevention.; Chagas' disease -- Latin America -- Prevention.; Housing and health -- Bolivia.; Housing and health -- Latin America.; Public health surveillance -- Bolivia.; Public health surveillance -- Latin America.
Description: "Chagas' disease has become one of the major public-health problems in Latin America. Current estimates are that sixteen to eighteen million people are infected. It is caused by a flagellate protozoan whose vector is the triatomine or vinchuca bug, locally referred to as the "kissing bug" because of its tendency to lodge on victims' faces during sleep." "Although there is no cure for the chronic stage, the disease vectors can be controlled and possibly eliminated through improved hygiene and living conditions. No longer exclusive to Latin America, Chagas' disease is spreading to North America with the migration of infected bugs, hosts, transfusions, transplant organs, and changes in climate." "The Kiss of Death is a thorough study of Chagas' disease with analysis of research involving epidemiology, entomology, parasitology, pathology, and immunology."--BOOK JACKET.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 253-288) and index.