King’s launches Chagas disease screening in pregnancy

19 January 2026 - New Chagas disease screening for pregnant women and birthing people from Latin America

A new screening service for Chagas disease launches at King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust today (19 January 2026). The service is aimed at pregnant women and birthing people who were born in Latin America, or whose mother was born there.

Chagas disease is an infection that’s spread by an insect known as the “kissing bug”, found in some Latin American countries. Many people with Chagas disease do not have symptoms for many years. However, it can lead to heart and digestive problems if left untreated.

The new screening service aims to protect pregnant women and birthing people, and their babies. If someone tests positive, their baby will be tested at birth too. This is because there is a small risk of passing the infection on during pregnancy. Treatment is available easily and free on the NHS.

While the screening at King’s is focused on pregnancy, anyone born in Latin America can ask their GP for a test.

Dr Mauricio Arias, Consultant in Infectious Diseases and Microbiology at King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said: “If a person has Chagas disease, they remain infected for decades, often with no signs or symptoms of illness, but one in three people develop problems with their heart, digestive system or both. Symptoms can include breathlessness, ankle swelling, dizziness or collapse. Problems with the digestion such as difficulty swallowing or constipation can also occur.

“In pregnant women, Chagas disease can be passed to the baby by infected mothers. The good news is that if you are pregnant and your baby gets the infection, it can be cured with treatment, which is why detection is key.”

For more information about Chagas disease and who may be at risk, see the Chagas disease migrant health guide on GOV.UK.