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Chagas

Event Details:

Chagas disease, caused by infection with the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi), is endemic throughout the Americas  resulting in significant morbidity and economic burdens. Referred to as the “silent killer”, chagas disease causes myocardial damage. Cardiac pathology progresses asymptomatically until irreversible end-stage heart failure is present leading to a sudden cardiac death. Chagas disease is the most common cause of heart failure in Latin America. However, T. cruzi-positive cases have been found in 27 southern states and there is much higher than expected prevalence of locally-acquired transmission. Approximately 6-10 million persons are infected with it and another 100 million are at risk for acquiring infection.

To address this, the UT Health San Antonio ECHO team is relaunching a Chagas ECHO for providers in partnership with Texas State University and the South Coastal Area Health Education Centers (AHEC). This ECHO will build local capacity for screening, diagnosing, and managing Chagas Disease. Learn more at here.