Acute Chagas Disease Outbreak among Military Personnel, Colombia, 2021

Emerg Infect Dis. 2023 Sep;29(9):1882-1885. doi: 10.3201/eid2909.230886.

Abstract

We report an acute Chagas disease outbreak among soldiers in Colombia. Trypanosoma cruzi infection was confirmed through parasitology, serology, and molecular methods. Among 9 affected soldiers, 2 died; 7 were hospitalized and received benznidazole treatment, which produced favorable outcomes. Personnel patrolling rural areas in Colombia could be at increased risk for Chagas disease.

Keywords: Chagas disease; Colombia; Trypanosoma cruzi; disease outbreaks; military personnel; parasites; vector-borne infections.

MeSH terms

  • Chagas Disease* / drug therapy
  • Chagas Disease* / epidemiology
  • Colombia / epidemiology
  • Disease Outbreaks
  • Humans
  • Military Personnel*