Chagas Disease – Not a ‘new’ American HIV/AIDS

Dr. Peter J. Hotez, dean of Baylor College of Medicine’s National School of Tropical Medicine, raised plenty of eyebrows with an editorial recently published in PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases where the Chagas Disease was described as “The New HIV/AIDS of the Americas.”

Perhaps most importantly, the article raised awareness of a parasitic disease currently infecting 300,000 people in the U.S. in addition to millions suffering in Mexico, Central and South America.

Dr. Hotez said he penned the provocative editorial to rally resources for people with Chagas disease.

“I wanted to call attention to the disease; make people aware of it,” said Hotez, adding he had no intention to diminish the impact of HIV/AIDS. “I believe that Chagas disease is every bit as important as the AIDS problem.”

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Chagas: Not the American HIV/AIDS but a considerable health threat nonetheless