As better studies were performed and better quality data came in, the incidence rate in Latin America was found to be strikingly high.  In fact, during the 1980s, the total incidence of infection via vector-borne transmission within 18 endemic countries was approximated at around 17 million cases in addition to 100 million people (or 25% of all Latin American inhabitants) being at risk of contracting Chagas disease (Moncayo et al., 18).