Science Quickly Kissing Bugs, Koalas and Clues to Life on Mars
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Sep 15, 2025 Chagas disease is now considered endemic in the U.S., raising urgent public health concerns. There's good news for koalas, as a new vaccine may help combat their chlamydia crisis. Exciting discoveries from NASA’s Perseverance rover hint at ancient microbial life on Mars, fueling our curiosity about the Red Planet. Meanwhile, advances in black hole measurements celebrate breakthroughs in our understanding of the universe. Join the discussion on these fascinating developments shaping science today!
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Chagas Is Now Endemic In Parts Of The U.S.
- The CDC now considers Chagas disease endemic in parts of the U.S. due to widespread kissing bugs and undetected infections.
- Many infected people remain unaware, raising public-health and transfusion/transplant risks.
How Chagas Spreads And Why It Matters
- Trypanosoma cruzi spreads mainly via infected kissing-bug feces but also through transfusions, transplants, birth, or contaminated food.
- Acute symptoms can resolve but untreated infections later cause serious digestive and fatal heart conditions.
U.S. Death Rate Drops As COVID Falls From Top10
- COVID-19 fell off the top-10 causes of death in the U.S. in 2024, and overall death rates dropped nearly 4%.
- Reduced COVID deaths and a sharp fall in drug overdoses drove much of the decline.