A blood-sucking assassin bug collected by the Central Institute for Malaria – Parasitology – Entomology in Hanoi.

The Central Institute for Malaria – Parasitology – Entomology has asked the Ministry of Health to conduct research into blood-sucking assassin bugs in Vietnam.

On July 1, the institute sent a report to the Health Ministry about the existence of blood-sucking bugs in Vietnam. Hanoians have reported being bitten by the bugs since 2005.

Scientists claim the bugs can transmit Chagas disease from cattle to humans, but this disease has been recorded only in Africa and South America.

Dr. Nguyen Van Chau from the Central Institute for Malaria – Parasitology – Entomology confirmed that Vietnam has not conducted any research on blood-sucking assassin bugs, as the bugs have not caused seriously harm in Vietnam.

The people who were bitten by bugs since 2005 are still healthy.

The Central Institute for Malaria – Parasitology – Entomology proposed joining combine with the Institute for Ecology and Biological Resources to conduct research on the bugs.

Dr. Chau explained that, perhaps because of climate change, blood-sucking assassin bugs have appeared more often and more people have been bitten. Many people from various provinces have reported the bites to the Central Institute for Malaria – Parasitology – Entomology and Institute for Ecology and Biological Resources.

PV