{"id":468031,"date":"2026-01-21T18:19:07","date_gmt":"2026-01-21T18:19:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/?p=468031"},"modified":"2026-01-22T10:13:58","modified_gmt":"2026-01-22T10:13:58","slug":"kings-college-london-launches-pregnancy-screening-service-for-rare-chagas-disease","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/news\/community\/kings-college-london-launches-pregnancy-screening-service-for-rare-chagas-disease\/","title":{"rendered":"King\u2019s College Hospital launches pregnancy screening service for rare Chagas disease"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><strong>King\u2019s College Hospital have launched a screening service for the rare Chagas disease from Latin America, aimed at treating the pregnant and stopping them passing it to their children, <em>writes Rich Brann&#8230;<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Chagas disease is an infection spread by an insect in some Latin American countries, which can lie unnoticed for years or even decades and lead to heart or digestive problems if untreated, with symptoms including breathlessness, ankle swelling, dizziness, or collapse.<\/p><script type=\"text\/plain\" data-tcf=\"waiting-for-consent\" data-id=\"69959\" data-bid=\"1\" data-placement=\"448384\" data-no-track=\"impressions\">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<\/script>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-wp-embed is-provider-southwark-news wp-block-embed-southwark-news\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"4T2svL1M9jA\"><blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"JikAknQql7\"><a href=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/news\/community\/brixton-blood-donor-centre-leads-efforts-to-recruit-black-heritage-donors-with-group-bookings\/\">Brixton Blood Donor Centre leads efforts to recruit black heritage donors with group bookings<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"&#8220;Brixton Blood Donor Centre leads efforts to recruit black heritage donors with group bookings&#8221; &#8212; Southwark News\" src=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/news\/community\/brixton-blood-donor-centre-leads-efforts-to-recruit-black-heritage-donors-with-group-bookings\/embed\/#?secret=RNWTRBCGpy#?secret=JikAknQql7\" data-secret=\"JikAknQql7\" width=\"500\" height=\"282\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Dr Mauricio Arias, consultant in infectious diseases and microbiology at King\u2019s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said: \u201cIn pregnant women, Chagas disease can be passed to the baby by infected mothers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe 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.\u201d<\/p><script type=\"text\/plain\" data-tcf=\"waiting-for-consent\" data-id=\"68153\" data-bid=\"1\" data-placement=\"448385\" data-no-track=\"impressions\">PGRpdiBpZD0ic291dGgtMzIxMDM4OTk0MSIgY2xhc3M9InNvdXRoLWNvbnRlbnQgc291dGgtZW50aXR5LXBsYWNlbWVudCIgc3R5bGU9Im1hcmdpbi1sZWZ0OiBhdXRvO21hcmdpbi1yaWdodDogYXV0bzt0ZXh0LWFsaWduOiBjZW50ZXI7Ij48IS0tICAvMTU0NzI1MDcwLDIyNjk0MTk2OTY5L3NvdXRod2Fya25ld3Mvc291dGh3YXJrbmV3cyAtLT4NCjxkaXYgaWQ9ImRpdi1ncHQtYWQtMngxIj4NCjxzY3JpcHQ+DQpnb29nbGV0YWcuY21kLnB1c2goZnVuY3Rpb24oKSB7IGdvb2dsZXRhZy5kaXNwbGF5KCdkaXYtZ3B0LWFkLTJ4MScpOyB9KTsNCjwvc2NyaXB0Pg0KPC9kaXY+ICAgICAgICAgIDwvZGl2Pg==<\/script>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/publication\/299346023_Addressing_the_neglect_Chagas_disease_in_London_UK\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">A study<\/a> by the Lancet in 2025 estimated that there are more than 1,000 cases of Chagas disease in London, but with under 50 reported cases and symptoms not presenting for years, underdiagnosis is extremely high.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s estimated that the disease kills nearly 12,000 people annually worldwide due to the heart issues it can cause.<\/p><script type=\"text\/plain\" data-tcf=\"waiting-for-consent\" data-id=\"71156\" data-bid=\"1\" data-placement=\"448386\" data-no-track=\"impressions\">PGRpdiBpZD0ic291dGgtNDIxMjI5Mjg4IiBjbGFzcz0ic291dGgtaW4tYXJ0aWNsZS1tcHU5IHNvdXRoLWVudGl0eS1wbGFjZW1lbnQiPjwhLS0gIC8xNTQ3MjUwNzAsMjI2OTQxOTY5Njkvc291dGh3YXJrbmV3cy9zb3V0aHdhcmtuZXdzIC0tPg0KPGRpdiBpZD0iZGl2LWdwdC1hZC1tcHU5Ij4NCjxzY3JpcHQ+DQpnb29nbGV0YWcuY21kLnB1c2goZnVuY3Rpb24oKSB7IGdvb2dsZXRhZy5kaXNwbGF5KCdkaXYtZ3B0LWFkLW1wdTknKTsgfSk7DQo8L3NjcmlwdD4NCjwvZGl2PiAgICAgPC9kaXY+<\/script>\n\n\n\n<p>The same study identified Southwark as having one of the highest likely rates of Chagas disease, with the borough <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/uk-news\/davehillblog\/2016\/jul\/09\/latin-american-londoners-becoming-visible\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">historically having a thriving<\/a> Latin American community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>KCL\u2019s screening service is aimed at pregnant people who were born in Latin America, or whose mother was born there, with treatment readily available on the NHS at no cost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.selondonics.org\/chagas-programme-receives-further-funding-to-improve-access-and-health-outcomes-for-southwarks-latin-american-community\/\">A separate screening service<\/a> in Southwark is run by the Indoamerican Refugee and Migrant Organisation, with anyone born in Central America, South America or Mexico able to get tested and the service running until February 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>For more information about Chagas disease, its long-term complications, and who is at risk, a health guide is available at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/guidance\/chagas-disease-migrant-health-guide\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">GOV.UK<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p><script type=\"text\/plain\" data-tcf=\"waiting-for-consent\" data-id=\"71157\" data-bid=\"1\" data-placement=\"448387\" data-no-track=\"impressions\">PGRpdiBpZD0ic291dGgtNDIzNTU5NjcwIiBjbGFzcz0ic291dGgtaW4tYXJ0aWNsZS1tcHUtMTAgc291dGgtZW50aXR5LXBsYWNlbWVudCI+PCEtLSAgLzE1NDcyNTA3MCwyMjY5NDE5Njk2OS9zb3V0aHdhcmtuZXdzL3NvdXRod2Fya25ld3MgLS0+DQo8ZGl2IGlkPSJkaXYtZ3B0LWFkLW1wdTEwIj4NCjxzY3JpcHQ+DQpnb29nbGV0YWcuY21kLnB1c2goZnVuY3Rpb24oKSB7IGdvb2dsZXRhZy5kaXNwbGF5KCdkaXYtZ3B0LWFkLW1wdTEwJyk7IH0pOw0KPC9zY3JpcHQ+DQo8L2Rpdj4gICAgIDwvZGl2Pg==<\/script>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-tiktok wp-block-embed-tiktok\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"qrSCShxn5PpJE0mc1V0hXq9cIM3z6g7ja8Xf4Din3NMegdYTGKikW4JuLA2PdN76tQFlOkfUD5QRrwuojY1sUGwZ9bOT\"><blockquote class=\"tiktok-embed\" cite=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@southwarknews\/video\/7517336475885735191\" data-video-id=\"7517336475885735191\" data-embed-from=\"oembed\" style=\"max-width:605px; min-width:325px;\"> <section> <a target=\"_blank\" title=\"@southwarknews\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@southwarknews?refer=embed\">@southwarknews<\/a> <p>CGI footage shows what the <a title=\"elephantandcastle\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/elephantandcastle?refer=embed\">#elephantandcastle<\/a> <a title=\"tube\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/tube?refer=embed\">#tube<\/a> station and town centre development will look like when it\u2019s complete.  The brand new structure will replace the <a title=\"northern\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/northern?refer=embed\">#Northern<\/a> line tube entrance and includes provisional space for a future <a title=\"bakerloo\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/bakerloo?refer=embed\">#Bakerloo<\/a> line extension.  The Elephant town centre will be ready by early 2026. It includes 485 new homes, of which 172 will be affordable and 3 socially rented, as well as 55 new shops, restaurants and offices.  Read more about the plans here: https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/area\/elephant-and-castle\/cgi-footage-shows-what-elephant-and-castle-tube-station-will-look-like-in-five-years-time\/ <a title=\"southwarknews\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/southwarknews?refer=embed\">#southwarknews<\/a> <a title=\"londonnews\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/londonnews?refer=embed\">#londonnews<\/a> <a title=\"southwark\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/southwark?refer=embed\">#southwark<\/a> <a title=\"london\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/london?refer=embed\">#london<\/a> <a title=\"southlondon\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/southlondon?refer=embed\">#southlondon<\/a> <a title=\"southwarkcouncil\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/southwarkcouncil?refer=embed\">#southwarkcouncil<\/a> <a title=\"housing\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/housing?refer=embed\">#housing<\/a> <a title=\"elephant\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/elephant?refer=embed\">#elephant<\/a> <a title=\"redevelopment\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/redevelopment?refer=embed\">#redevelopment<\/a> <a title=\"tfl\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/tfl?refer=embed\">#tfl<\/a> <\/p> <a target=\"_blank\" title=\"? original sound - Southwark News\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/music\/original-sound-7517336464012266262?refer=embed\">? original sound &#8211; Southwark News<\/a> <\/section> <\/blockquote> <script async src=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/span>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>King\u2019s College Hospital have launched a screening service for the rare Chagas disease from Latin America, aimed at treating the pregnant and stopping them passing it to their children, writes Rich Brann&#8230; Chagas disease is an infection spread by an insect in some Latin American countries, which can lie unnoticed for years or even decades [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18930,"featured_media":459143,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":{"format":"standard","override":[{"template":"1","parallax":"1","fullscreen":"1","layout":"right-sidebar","sidebar":"default-sidebar","second_sidebar":"default-sidebar","sticky_sidebar":"1","share_position":"top","share_float_style":"share-monocrhome","show_share_counter":"1","show_view_counter":"1","show_featured":"1","show_post_meta":"1","show_post_author":"1","show_post_author_image":"1","show_post_date":"1","post_date_format":"default","post_date_format_custom":"Y\/m\/d","show_post_category":"1","show_post_reading_time":"0","post_reading_time_wpm":"300","post_calculate_word_method":"str_word_count","show_zoom_button":"0","zoom_button_out_step":"2","zoom_button_in_step":"3","show_post_tag":"1","show_prev_next_post":"1","show_popup_post":"1","show_comment_section":"1","number_popup_post":"1","show_author_box":"1","show_inline_post_related":"1"}],"image_override":[{"single_post_thumbnail_size":"crop-500","single_post_gallery_size":"crop-500"}],"trending_post_position":"meta","trending_post_label":"Trending","sponsored_post_label":"Sponsored by","disable_ad":"0","subtitle":"The underdiagnosed disease has a small chance of being passed onto children if untreated"},"jnews_primary_category":{"id":"42"},"jnews_social_meta":[],"jnews_override_counter":{"view_counter_number":"0","share_counter_number":"0","like_counter_number":"0","dislike_counter_number":"0"},"footnotes":""},"categories":[7375,13539,13602,8341],"tags":[7425,148,7789,208],"class_list":["post-468031","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community","category-featured","category-news","category-southwark","tag-health","tag-kings-college-hospital","tag-latin-american","tag-southwark"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/468031","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/18930"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=468031"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/468031\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/459143"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=468031"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=468031"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=468031"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}