KILLEEN, Texas — A Texas woman is speaking out to raise awareness about Chagas disease , a little-known illness caused by the so-called “kissing bug.”

Sandra Youngblood said she discovered she had the disease after a routine blood donation in Florida in 2018.

“I’ve always donated blood to try to save lives, and that’s how I found out,” Youngblood said. “At first, I didn’t believe it. I ignored the recommendation to seek medical attention until 2021.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that the Chagas disease is caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi , which can be transmitted through the bite of a kissing bug, an insect named for its habit of biting near the lips and eyes while people sleep. Though the bugs are more common in Central and South America, i

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