For the second time and still facing Covid-19 pandemic, we celebrate World Chagas Disease Day. According to the Casa de Oswaldo Cruz Researcher and Carlos Chagas expert, Simone Kropf, the recognition of this day is important for two important reasons: the rigorous Brazilian scientific work and a reminder for neglected diseases. World Health Organization claims, in this second anniversary, for equitable health access and services to those affected by the disease. People living with Chagas disease should be prioritized to be vaccinated against Covid-19.
On 2019, with the Fiocruz support, during the World Health Assembly, World Chagas Disease Day was established reversing one century of silence regarding this illness that affects around 7 million people worldwide. This story started back in 1907 when the young Md Carlos Chagas arrived at a small city called Lassance, in the state of Minas Gerais. The task was bringing solutions against malaria that were interrupting the construction of the railroad. Chagas was intrigued by an insect that fed on the blood of the inhabitants of the city. The people called them "barber".
The apparently regular mosquito caused a breakthrough discovery to Brazilian science. Carlos Chagas could name and describe it. He gave the Trypanossoma cruzi to honor Oswaldo Cruz. He observed its life cycle, its vector - the kissing bug, its domestic reservoir and the disease. Although Chagas was internationally recognized by his findings concerning the disease, there is a long path to acknowledge the situation of Chagas Disease worldwide as a global health emergency.
The legacy of the researcher who fiercely struggled to health care to the population affected by Chagas disease has been accomplished by Fundação Oswaldo Cruz since then. Dedicating a day to find ways to cooperate internationally in order to eradicate Chagas disease is another important step ahead.
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Take a look at Fiocruz articles on Chagas disease
| Year | Author | Article |
| 2020 | Fernando de Barros et al. | Agreement between upper endoscopy and esophagography in the diagnosis of megaesophagus in Chagas disease |
| 2019 | Cassio Santana Meira et al. | Betulinic Acid Derivative BA5, Attenuates Inflammation and Fibrosis in Experimental Chronic Chagas Disease Cardiomyopathy by Inducing IL-10 and M2 Polarization |
| 2018 | Taynãna César Simões et al. | Chagas disease mortality in Brazil: A Bayesian analysis of age-period-cohort effects and forecasts for two decades |
| 2017 | José Mengel and Fabíola Cardillo | The Interleukin-17 (IL-17) Puzzle in Chagas’ Disease |
| 2016 | João Victor Leite Dias et al. | Knowledge of triatomine insects and of the Chagas disease among people from localities which have different levels of vector infestations |
| 2015 | Luiz Henrique Conde Sangenis at al. | First report of acute Chagas disease by vector transmission in Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil |