The parasitic infection, Chagas disease, was first discovered in 1909 by Brazilian physician Carlos Chagas. According to the World Health Organization, an estimated more than 10,000 people die every year from clinical manifestations of Chagas disease, and more than 25 million people risk acquiring the disease.

It is caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, and the disease is also referred to as American trypanosomiasis.

Hutchinson Distinguished Professor of Biological Sciences at Loyola University New Orleans, Patricia Dorn, PhD joined me to discuss Chagas disease and her class trip to Guatemala.