[Chagas Disease in Spain: Update, Recommendations, and Screening Protocols for Nationwide Control]

Chagas disease (CD), endemic in 21 Latin American countries, affects 6-7 million people worldwide, causes approximately 12,000 deaths annually, and leads to 9,000 newborns being infected through vertical transmission. Spain is the European country with the highest number of cases, with vertical transmission being the main route of infection in our setting. Although most infected individuals are asymptomatic, around 30% will develop Chagas cardiomyopathy over time, which carries an annual mortality rate of approximately 4%. The effectiveness of treatment decreases as the duration of infection and the patient's age increase. Once cardiac involvement is established, treatment neither reverses the damage nor halts disease progression. Therefore, screening programs are of vital importance. In 2024, the Spanish Ministry of Health published a national consensus document on prenatal screening for Chagas disease, applicable across the entire national territory.