Acute Chagas Disease Outbreak among Military Personnel, Colombia, 2021

Abstract

We report an acute Chagas disease outbreak among soldiers in Colombia. Trypanosoma cruzi infection was confirmed through parasitology, serology, and molecular methods. Among 9 affected soldiers, 2 died; 7 were hospitalized and received benznidazole treatment, which produced favorable outcomes. Personnel patrolling rural areas in Colombia could be at increased risk for Chagas disease.

Keywords: Chagas disease; Colombia; Trypanosoma cruzi; disease outbreaks; military personnel; parasites; vector-borne infections.

Figure 1

Timeline of acute Chagas disease illness and hospitalizations among military personnel, Colombia, 2021–2022. A group of 9 military personnel had signs and symptoms compatible with acute febrile syndrome, 2 of whom had severe symptoms and died. The remaining 7 patients were admitted to Hospital Militar Central in Bogota, and were treated with benznidazole (5–7 mg/kg/d for 60 days). All 7 had favorable outcomes.

Figure 2

Pericardial fluid smear collected for diagnosis of acute Chagas disease among military personnel, Colombia, 2021. Giemsa-stained pericardial fluid smear of patient 1 shows a Trypanosoma cruzi parasite (center). Original magnification ×1,000.