Malaria Resurfaces in the US: Florida and Texas Report Local Cases After 20 Years.
- Health Officials Sound Alarm as Mosquito-Borne Disease Strikes Locally
Malaria, a mosquito-borne infection, has made an alarming comeback in the United States after a 20-year hiatus, raising concerns among health officials.
CBS News reports that four cases have been detected in Florida, with an additional case in Texas, as confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
What is particularly troubling is that these cases have been acquired locally, meaning the patients have not traveled abroad.
While the patients are said to be recovering following treatment, the reemergence of malaria within US borders is causing great concern. The last reported case of local malaria transmission in the US was in 2003 when eight cases were identified in Palm Beach, Florida.
The CDC has issued a health advisory stating that Anopheles mosquitoes, found in many regions across the country, have the potential to transmit malaria if they bite an infected person. However, the risk of contracting malaria within the US remains “extremely low,” according to the CDC.
Malaria cases in the US are typically linked to travel outside the country by infected individuals. However, the recent cases in Florida and Texas involve patients who have not traveled abroad, indicating local transmission within US territory.
Estelle Martin, an entomologist at the University of Florida specializing in mosquito-borne diseases, expressed concern about the local transmission, stating, “It’s always worrisome that you have local transmission in an area,” as reported by Vox.
Both Texas and Florida have issued alerts and provided recommendations to residents, advising them to eliminate standing water sources and ensure intact window screens. Clinicians have also been urged to obtain travel histories from patients displaying malaria symptoms to determine if they have been exposed to mosquitoes in areas with malaria activity.
Public health authorities are actively monitoring and implementing measures to control the local mosquito population, CNN reports.
“Malaria is a medical emergency and should be treated accordingly,” emphasized the CDC in a Health Alert Network Health Advisory. The advisory further urged that suspected malaria cases should be promptly evaluated in a facility capable of providing rapid diagnosis and treatment within 24 hours of presentation.
Scientists have warned about the potential increase in malaria cases in the US as temperatures rise. A study published in The Lancet in 2021 indicated that rising global temperatures may expand the climatic suitability for diseases like malaria, particularly in already endemic areas. This expansion could lead to outbreaks in regions where individuals may lack immunity and public health systems may be unprepared.
Malaria is a severe disease transmitted when female Anopheles mosquitoes bite an infected person and subsequently bite another individual. Symptoms can include fever, chills, headache, muscle pain, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. In severe cases, malaria can lead to life-threatening complications such as kidney failure, seizures, and coma.
Treatment involves the administration of antimalarial drugs, such as chloroquine or atovaquone, and proguanil.
According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 247 million malaria cases were reported worldwide in 2021.
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