As many as 100,000 people in California could have Chagas disease and not know about it.

The disease is caused by a parasite that lives inside so-called kissing bugs. At least four different species in California are known to carry the parasite.

Researchers say a majority of those infected don't even know about it because it can lie dormant for years. It ultimately causes serious cardiac issues, including heart attacks or strokes.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Monday published a paper by lead researchers studying Chagas disease.

The illness is now in 32 states as well as the Caribbean and Latin America.

The CDC wants the World Health Organization to declare the illness an endemic to bring more awareness and potentially more funding to fight it.

NBC Bay Area'

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