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Chagas: Is a vaccine finally within reach?
17 avril 2026
By Ana Espino | Published on April 17, 2026 | 3 min readChagas disease is a parasitic infection caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, affecting approximately 6–7 million people worldwide, mainly in Latin America. It is characterized by an acute phase followed by a chronic infection that can last a lifetime and, in about 30% of patients, progress to severe cardiac or digestive complications. Current treatme
By Ana Espino | Published on April 17, 2026 | 3 min read
Chagas disease is a parasitic infection caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, affecting approximately 6–7 million people worldwide, mainly in Latin America. It is characterized by an acute phase followed by a chronic infection that can last a lifetime and, in about 30% of patients, progress to severe cardiac or digestive complications.
Current treatment options are limited to two drugs, benznidazole and nifurtimox, whose effectiveness is mainly demonstrated during the acute phase. Their efficacy declines significantly in the chronic phase, and their use is often limited by adverse effects. Moreover, no vaccine is currently available, representing a major gap in the fight against this disease.
Chagas disease is a parasitic infection caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, affecting approximately 6–7 million people worldwide, mainly in Latin America. It is characterized by an acute phase followed by a chronic infection that can last a lifetime and, in about 30% of patients, progress to severe cardiac or digestive complications.
Current treatment options are limited to two drugs, benznidazole and nifurtimox, whose effectiveness is mainly demonstrated during the acute phase. Their efficacy declines significantly in the chronic phase, and their use is often limited by adverse effects. Moreover, no vaccine is currently available, representing a major gap in the fight against this disease.
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Scientific reference
Teixeira SM, et al. The time has come for a vaccine against Chagas disease. Lancet Reg Health Am. 2025 Mar 21;45:101059. doi: 10.1016/j.lana.2025.101059. PMID: 40206818; PMCID: PMC11981767.
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