Former Alias star Mia Maestro is fronting a new campaign to raise awareness of Chagas disease in Latin America. The Argentine actress joined director Ricardo Preve at the opening of the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival last weekend to attend the screening of his documentary "Chagas: A Hidden Affliction."

The disease infects around 12 million people in Central and South America and causes high fever, swelling, an inflamed heart and enlarged spleens, livers and lymph nodes. Every year, 50,000 people will die from the illness.

Maestro says, "Chagas is a disease that I grew up hearing about because my mom is from the north of Argentina. I'm very familiar with it, but I had no idea few people know about it. So whatever I can do to raise awareness, I'll do it."

(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)