First locally acquired malaria cases diagnosed in US in 20 years
Five cases of malaria have been confirmed in Florida and Texas, the first time in 20 years that the potentially deadly mosquito-borne disease has been contracted locally in the United States, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Monday.
The four cases in Florida, along with one in Texas, were diagnosed over a two-month period, the agency said.
The state of Florida said the first case was diagnosed May 26 in Sarasota County, while Texas officials said on June 23 that a Texas resident working outside in Cameron County had contracted the disease.
The CDC said in a warning released Monday that malaria is considered a medical emergency and that anyone with symptoms “should be urgently evaluated.”
However, the CDC said the risk of malaria remains low in the United States and most cases are contracted when people travel outside the country. As many as 95 percent of malaria infections are contracted in Africa, according to the health service.
States issue warnings
Malaria is caused by five types of parasites carried by certain female mosquitoes. Symptoms include fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, and fatigue. Nausea, diarrhea and vomiting may also occur. Malaria can cause life-threatening damage, including kidney failure, seizures and coma.
The state of Florida has issued a mosquito-borne disease alert, recommending that residents empty stagnant pools of water, make sure their window screens are hole-free and use insecticides containing DEET to repel mosquitoes. Long sleeve t-shirts and pants are also recommended if mosquitoes are present.
A new malaria vaccine developed by Oxford University scientists could reduce deaths by 70 percent by 2030, and plans to produce it are already in the works.
The state of Texas has also issued a health alert advising clinicians to routinely request a travel history to determine if a patient with malaria symptoms has spent time outdoors and been bitten by mosquitoes in an area of ​​malarial activity.
Health officials are also warning doctors, especially those in southern states where the weather is friendlier to the tropical mosquito that spreads malaria, to be aware of the possibility of infection. They should also think about how to access the IV drug that is the first-line treatment for severe malaria in the United States, the CDC said.
The agency said the people diagnosed were being treated and “are improving”.
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About 2,000 cases of malaria are diagnosed in the US each year – the vast majority of travelers come from countries where malaria commonly spreads.
Since 1992, there have been 11 outbreaks of mosquito-borne malaria in the US. The last occurred in 2003 in Palm Beach County, Florida, where eight cases were reported.
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