Health experts hope data out of Texas will raise awareness about a type of infection commonly spread through kissing bugs. Texas has the highest number of locally acquired human cases of Chagas disease, Hamer said. Endemic status could increase awarenessNo one knows exactly how many people in the U.S. have Chagas disease, but scientists estimate at least 300,000 people have Chagas. It requests people send a photo of the bug to identify if the bug is a kissing bug before shipping the sample. Researchers also said they're hopeful this data may lead to more data and research into kissing bugs and the presence of Chagas disease in the US.