Article: Why can't I give blood? (A Question Of Health).(trypanosomiasis)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)

Q I recently tried to give blood at a transfusion centre but was not allowed to when I said I had travelled to Venezuela back in 1995. I was told I could have contracted trypanosomiasis. What is this?

Kathryn Jenkins, Wales

A This is not so unusual Really -- commonly it is known as Chagas' disease. It is caused by a single-celled organism, a trypanasome, which infects the blood and immunity cells. Chagas' disease is only found in the Americas from Central America south to Patagonia. It is contracted by being bitten by the cone-nosed bug, a large beetle-like creature measuring up to 4cm long. Symptoms vary from immediate local swelling and fever ...

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