FORUM: ‘‘Prevent, Control, Care: Everyone’s role in Chagas disease.“ World Chagas Disease 2025. In 2025 we are shining a spotlight on Chagas disease, the suffering it causes and are calling for equitable access to health care and services for everyone affected by the disease. Chagas disease is prevalent among poor populations of continental Latin America but is increasingly being detected in other countries and continents. It is often termed as a “silent and silenced disease” as the majority of infected people have no symptoms or very mild symptoms. There are approximately 6-7 million people infected with Chagas disease worldwide, with 10,000 deaths, every year. Early detection is key as Chagas disease is curable when treatment is provided soon after infection. If this does not happen because of delayed diagnosis, the infection can transform into a life-threatening condition. In this case, adequate care throughout life is essential. Detection, treatment and monitoring of the disease can be carried out at primary health-care level in most cases. To mark the day, let's take action by:
Increasing awareness about Chagas disease: Chagas disease, predominantly affecting impoverished populations in Latin America, is increasingly spreading across continents. With 7 million infections globally and significant mortality rates, it poses a substantial public health threat. An estimated 10,000 people die from Chagas disease every year, and over 100 million people are at risk of acquiring the disease.
Uniting and acting against Chagas disease: Effective prevention and control of Chagas disease requires united, well-trained, and up-to-date health professionals collaborating closely with communities and civil society to address its complex biomedical, social, and environmental challenges.
Supporting people with Chagas disease: Promoting initiatives to overcome barriers to healthcare access for marginalized populations affected by the disease, as well as advocating for comprehensive care and support systems will improve outcomes for all affected individuals and their families.
Addressing stigma and discrimination: Stigmatization isolates sufferers, hindering timely diagnosis and treatment. Ending stigmatization, discrimination or negligence is essential to ensuring proper care for people with Chagas disease.
Follow the conversations with the hashtags: #14April, #Healthequity, #WorldChagasDiseaseDay.
EVENTS: The WHO and the PAHO will hold an online event to mark the World Chagas Disease 2025 under the slogan “Prevent, Control, Care: Everyone’s role in Chagas disease.“ the event will seek to give visibility and attention to Chagas and raise the level of awareness in everyone about the importance of improving early detection, expanding diagnostic coverage and equitable access to clinical care for the disease. The WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus calls for global action to end Chagas Disease through prevention, cross-sector collaboration, and equitable access to care.
WEBINARS: On April 14th, 2025, starting at 11:00 am. – US Eastern Time; 12:00 pm. - Argentina 10:00 am. - Colombia; 09:00 a.m. – Mexico and Central America. You are invited to participate to the virtual event, this conversation with people from different sectors, whose contributions and perspectives will seek to enrich and exchange the perceptions and concepts of this problem, beyond the biomedical approach. We will have representatives from the world of cinema, anthropology, journalism and medicine. Join us and help us broaden and expand awareness about this disease to detect it early and give the comprehensive care that affected people need.
STATEMENTS: Watch the Message from the WHO Director General on World Chagas Diseases Day 2025; April 14th
Early detection is key as Chagas disease is curable when treatment is provided soon after infection. If this does not happen because of delayed diagnosis, the infection can transform into a life-threatening condition. In this case, adequate care throughout life is essential. Detection, treatment and monitoring of the disease can be carried out at primary health-care level in most cases.
To mark the day, let's take action by
Increasing awareness about Chagas disease: Chagas disease, predominantly affecting impoverished populations in Latin America, is increasingly spreading across continents. With 7 million infections globally and significant mortality rates, it poses a substantial public health threat. An estimated 10,000 people die from Chagas disease every year, and over 100 million people are at risk of acquiring the disease.
Uniting and acting against Chagas disease: Effective prevention and control of Chagas disease requires united, well-trained, and up-to-date health professionals collaborating closely with communities and civil society to address its complex biomedical, social, and environmental challenges.
Supporting people with Chagas disease: Promoting initiatives to overcome barriers to healthcare access for marginalized populations affected by the disease, as well as advocating for comprehensive care and support systems will improve outcomes for all affected individuals and their families.
Addressing stigma and discrimination: Stigmatization isolates sufferers, hindering timely diagnosis and treatment. Ending stigmatization, discrimination or negligence is essential to ensuring proper care for people with Chagas disease.
The role of public, health professionals, communities, patient groups and associations...
- Share accurate, evidence-based and updated information about risks associated with Chagas disease.
- Talk about Chagas diseases, without pointing to locations or ethnicity of people affected by the disease.
- Be empathetic towards people infected with Chagas disease.
The role of Policy makers
- Increase investments in capacity and resources towards prevention, diagnosis, management, control, surveillance and screening, starting at primary healthcare level.
- Be aware that risk of infection is not limited to areas where bugs are found – transmission can also occur by transfusion of blood and blood products, organ transplantation, congenital routes, oral/foodborne routes and laboratory accident.
- Include Chagas disease in policies related to migration and health.
The role of Partners and donors
- Advocate for prevention of transmission, early detection, care, epidemiological surveillance, and increased investment, starting at primary healthcare level.
- Increase investments and work with governments and local health authorities towards funding access to early diagnosis, safe treatment, care, surveillance and screening, starting at primary care level.
The role of Academia and researchers
- More research is needed on quality diagnostics and medicines, and on cost-effective interventions for vector control, hygiene and food safety.
COMMUNICATION MATERIALS Join Get the digital assets and campaign materials!
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