5. Assassin Bug (Kissing Bug)
Estimated Deaths Per Year: ~12,000
Location: Central & South America
Assassin bugs, also called kissing bugs, are creepy-crawly insects that spread Chagas disease, a potentially fatal illness that affects the heart and digestive system. These bugs feed on human blood and often bite around the lips or eyes while the victim is asleep.
The bite itself is painless, but the danger comes when the bug defecates near the wound. The parasite enters through the broken skin or eyes and begins infecting organs. Chagas disease may go undetected for years, slowly damaging the heart, leading to heart failure and death.
Over 8 million people in Latin America are infected, and thousands die each year from heart complications caused by this disease. The bugs hide in cracks of poorly built homes, making poverty a major risk factor.
Insecticides, better housing, and blood screening in hospitals have helped reduce the spread. However, many cases still go undiagnosed, and treatment is most effective only in the early stages.
