Blood-sucking stink bugs are capable of attacking the globe

Blood-sucking bugs are the culprits in Latin American parasites many years ago. Currently this epidemic has appeared in many other places in the world including Vietnam.

>>>Blood-stinking bugs are silently spreading around the world

The possibility of this insect spreading in the world while scientists have not studied its development, dispersal, is a problem raised in the June 20 workshop on "Shoulder Status". epidemiological game of kissing bugs in Vietnam " , in Hanoi.

Mr. Jun Nakagawa, Representative of the World Health Organization in the Western Pacific region, said that Chagas disease - a disease caused by human kissing bugs - is considered a medical problem in Latin America but in reality It has evolved into a global problem. As migrants and tourists increase continuously, Chagas cases are reported in 19 countries outside Latin America, including Japan and Australia.

He said that Chagas disease is at high risk to become a health problem in the Western Pacific, so more research is needed.

A blood-stained bug bug is found in Co Nhue, Tu Liem, Hanoi.(Photo: Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources)

In recent years, blood-sucking bugs have appeared massively in many Southeast Asian countries like Vietnam (especially in big cities like Hanoi, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City, Hue .), Thai Lan (Bankok, Phuket, .). Recently they have been discovered in the Philippines (Manila, Quezon City) .

In Vietnam, blood bugs have been in existence for a long time but have been discovered since 2011. Currently, this species has spread in at least 20 provinces, particularly in Hanoi is recorded in 29 districts. district.

Dr. Truong Xuan Lam, Head of the Department of Experimental Insects, Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources, said that in fact, Vietnam has not yet detected any cases of kissing bugs with Chagas disease because it does not exist yet. Anyone who is sick, but because there is no specific kit for specific testing, all rely on observation only.

He said that all cases of kissing bugs were monitored, but simply by occasionally calling to ask about the health situation, but not following a specific, scientific and implementation process. blood tests for health checks.

He said that, according to experts in some countries where blood bugs have been found and people with Chagas disease, the situation in Vietnam today is similar to their local development, such as islands. Reunion (France). It is therefore necessary to have a large-scale study to approach, carefully assess the risks of diseases caused by these kissing bugs.

"In Vietnam, currently the study of kissing blood bugs is still almost zero. Only a few studies have been done, all are small, mainly about the distribution and characteristics of living habitats. of this species . There are problems we have just recorded as a phenomenon, for example, this species of stink bugs like burning children more than adults, they often go with the place of the mouse but cannot explain the reason yet. thoroughly, " said Lam.

The habit of creating a nest of stink bug bugs is associated with the house mouse.(Photo: Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources)

Professor Vu Quang Con, Chairman of Vietnam Society of Insects said that the species of kissing bugs in Vietnam has developed rapidly, adapting to the conditions in our country so the experience of dealing with it from Latin America region to apply is not suitable. He also said that it is unknown whether this species in Vietnam is transmitted or not, and there must be a study to consider epidemiology.

Mr. Con said, Chagas is a fatal disease slowly, it weakens people, makes it easier for other diseases such as cardiovascular and nervous . There are tens of millions of Latin Americans who have suffered from this disease.

"In Vietnam, when it was first burned, people had an early phenomenon of redness even fever, but after that, no one had studied specifically. We only recommend people to encounter bugs. The blood of people whose shape is similar to those described by scientists has been re-taken to the expert of appraising, studying, finding and destroying all the bugs, eggs, breaking the favorable living conditions of the bugs Blood sucking is a humid environment, with wood, rats . " , Professor Con said.

According to him, due to the dangerous nature of the disease that this species can cause and transmit, we need further research on this species and its ability to cause disease, those on the list burned. Long-term testing is required.