Are kissing bugs confirmed to be in the Sarasota area? 

Kissing bugs aren’t tracked by local authorities, meaning their presence in Sarasota can’t be confirmed.

The insect –– not to be confused with lovebugs –– carries Chagas disease. Humans can catch the disease if a kissing bug defecates in an eye, mouth or open wound, or if a person consumes food or drink contaminated by the insect. Side effects include fever, rash and nausea. If left untreated, the disease can cause heart failure.

Kissing bugs are found in Florida, but catching Chagas disease is rare. An estimated 18,000 cases are confirmed in Florida, which is less than 1% of the state population. Florida possesses the third-highest number of people living with Chagas disease in the country.

Chagas disease was declared endemic to the U.S. in September, but since the government doesn’t track the insect’s population, it’s hard to confirm any presence in Sarasota.