Endemic, as defined by the CDC, refers to the constant presence and/or the usual prevalence of a disease in a population within a geographic area. The research team is calling for Chagas disease to be reclassified from nonendemic to endemic. Newsweek has contacted the CDC outside of regular working hours via email for comment.

In the past decade, humans reported contracting Chagas disease from 'kissing bugs' in eight states, including Tennessee.

Spread by “kissing bugs,” the disease can cause serious heart problems in humans and dogs, though many cases show few symptoms. View on euronews

A study is challenging decades of public health assumptions by calling for Chagas disease to be officially recognized as endemic to the United States.

A hidden danger has quietly made its way across the United States: the deadly “kissing bug” disease, also known as Chagas disease. Once thought to be a problem confined to parts of Latin America, this parasitic illness is now being transmitted locally in 32 US states,

"Kissing bugs" transmit Chagas disease through infected feces, causing symptoms like fever and potentially fatal heart problems in 20%-30% of chronic cases.