When Maira Gutiérrez was diagnosed with Chagas disease in 1997, neither she nor her primary care physician had even heard of the malady. She discovered her illness only by chance, after participating in a Red Cross blood drive organized by her employer, Universal Studios. Trypanosoma cruzi, the parasite that causes Chagas, is transmitted through an insect called the triatomine bug, known as the kissing bug, because it usually bites close to the lips. Chagas disease affects people primarily in rural Latin America, where the insect thrives in thatched roofs and mud walls.
Author Archives: Paula Andalo
Paula Andalo, Ethnic Media Editor, is focused on expanding KFF Health News’ partnerships with Spanish-language media. She has more than 25 years of experience as a health care writer and editor. Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, she began her career at Clarín newspaper, where she created an award-winning health section. She served as editor of El Tiempo Latino when the newspaper was owned by The Washington Post, and she was Spanish editor of the Pan American Health Organization. She was a Knight Fellow at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and a Kaiser Media Fellow.