Hunting hidden parasites: Trypanosoma cruzi.

Pathogens are not aware of international borders, including pathogens that cause emerging and neglected tropical diseases. Although Chagas disease is endemic to Latin America, where it affects around 5·7 million people, it is now a disease of global concern mainly because of the movement of human populations. After the USA, Spain hosts the highest number (more than 50 000) of migrants infected with Trypanosoma cruzi, the parasite that causes this life-threatening disease. European countries should therefore adapt their legislation to control the main non-vector modes of T cruzi transmission (blood transfusions and haemoderivatives, and organ transplantation).