![Potentially Deadly Kissing Bug Found In Colorado](https://townsquare.media/site/99/files/2019/04/King-Cash-2.png?w=980&q=75)
Potentially Deadly Kissing Bug Found In Colorado
A blood-sucking insect that potentially transmits a disease to human victims has been found in Colorado, according to a Fort Collins newspaper.
The Coloradoan reports the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are saying the kissing bug has now been reported in Colorado. The insect has been rapidly spreading northward from Central and South America into the southern U.S. in recent years, according to the CDC.
The kissing bug is not to be confused with the generally harmless boxelder bug, which it closely resembles. Boxelder bugs are extremely common across much of Wyoming.
The kissing bug is shown on the left in the above photo, while the boxelder bug is shown on the right.
The bug is known to carry chagas disease and infection that induces relatively mild flu-like symptoms in most people. But roughly a third of those infected with the disease can develop more serious heart or gastrointestinal illnesses which in some cases may longer years after the initial contact with the disease. The disease is spread when the insect bites and then defecates (poops) in the wound
Chagas disease can in some cases be fatal, although it is highly treatable if the infection is discovered quickly.
More From KGAB
![Cheyenne Man Hit With Felony After Allegedly Breaking Down Door](http://townsquare.media/site/99/files/2024/07/attachment-Untitled-design-2024-07-26T111230.949.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Governor Gordon Orders Flags To Half-Staff July 31 For Gus Fleischli](http://townsquare.media/site/107/files/2021/12/attachment-RS16839_Wyoming-Flag-02-2016-4.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Final CFD 2024 Pancake Breakfast Draws Thousands](http://townsquare.media/site/99/files/2021/07/attachment-6-2.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Commercial Building West of Cheyenne Burglarized](http://townsquare.media/site/99/files/2024/04/attachment-Untitled-design-2024-04-05T105208.628.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Torrential Monsoon Rains, Flooding Possible In SE Wyoming](http://townsquare.media/site/99/files/2022/09/attachment-storms.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Cheyenne Man Accused of Robbing 2 Banks, Hitting Cop With Hammer](http://townsquare.media/site/99/files/2024/07/attachment-Untitled-design-2024-07-26T090524.364.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![4 New Fugitives Added to Laramie County’s ‘Most Wanted’ List](http://townsquare.media/site/99/files/2024/07/attachment-Untitled-design-2024-07-25T173423.198.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![UPDATE: Man Suspected of Robbing 2 Cheyenne Banks Now in Custody](http://townsquare.media/site/99/files/2024/07/attachment-Untitled-design-2024-07-25T160820.797.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Cheyenne Woman Charged After Troopers Find Drugs in Her Purse](http://townsquare.media/site/99/files/2024/07/attachment-Untitled-design-2024-07-25T131926.367.jpg?w=980&q=75)