Nearly 100 years since its discovery by the Brazilian physicianCarlos Chagas, the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi remainsperhaps the most common cause of myocarditis worldwide. Thelethality of Chagas' heart disease is undisputed, as the survivalcurves presented by Rassi et al. in this issue of the Journalillustrate with chilling clarity (pages 799808). Morethan 10 million Latin Americans carry the parasite, and at least1 million of them will die unless scientific and political breakthroughslead to new strategies and tools for diagnosis, treatment, andincreased access to medical care.1
Chagas' disease (American trypanosomiasis) afflicts impoverishedpeople . . . [Full Text of this Article]
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Dr. Maguire is a professor of epidemiology and preventive medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore.
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