The United States has experienced five cases of mosquito-borne malaria in the past two months.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is warning healthcare providers and public health officials regarding a small number of locally acquired malaria cases. It has been two decades since the last recorded instance of domestically contracted malaria in the US.
Typically, when Americans fall ill with malaria, it’s due to acquiring the disease while traveling to regions where malaria is more prevalent.
Malaria is a disease caused by a parasite that is transmitted through infected female anopheline mosquito bites. When individuals become infected, they may experience symptoms such as fever, chills, and flu-like illness. If left untreated, the infection can progress to severe complications, potentially leading to fatalities.
Additionally, malaria can spread through blood transfusions, organ transplants, unsafe needle-sharing practices, and from mother to fetus
While the anopheline mosquito exists in specific regions of the U.S., malaria remains uncommon in the country. Globally, there are approximately 240 million cases annually, with 95% occurring in Africa.
However, the situation may change due to the impact of the climate crisis. Scientists have been cautioning that rising temperatures could lead to an increased incidence of malaria in the U.S. Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, the CDC reported approximately 2,000 cases of predominantly travel-related malaria in the U.S.
Five People Already Infected
According to the CDC, localized malaria cases have emerged in Florida and Texas, with four individuals affected in Florida and one in Texas. Notably, the cases in these two states do not appear to be connected. In response, active surveillance is being conducted in the specific area where the four cases occurred in Florida to promptly identify any additional infections. Public health authorities are also diligently monitoring and implementing measures to control local mosquito population.
In Texas, although only one case has been reported so far, health officials remain vigilant for any potential further cases and are actively monitoring the mosquito population in the region for signs of the disease.
All patients diagnosed with malaria are currently receiving treatment and demonstrating signs of improvement, according to the CDC. The last instance of locally acquired cases in the U.S. dates back to 2003 when eight individuals fell ill in Palm Beach County, Florida.
Despite these recent cases, the CDC emphasizes that the risk of contracting malaria within the U.S. remains “extremely low.” However, as the summer travel season commences, the CDC advises individuals to use insect repellant while traveling, as well as in their residential areas, particularly during the warmer months.
CDC Urges Medical Professionals to Stay Alert for Malaria Cases
The CDC suggests that healthcare professionals, particularly those practicing in the affected regions of Florida and Texas, remain vigilant for potential cases of malaria. Common symptoms of malaria include fever, chills, headache, fatigue, and gastrointestinal discomfort.
Typically, symptoms manifest between 10 days to 4 weeks after infection, although there have been cases where individuals fell ill up to a year after the initial infection.
Emphasizing the urgency, the CDC states that malaria is a medical emergency and should be treated accordingly. Timely intervention and prompt treatment can prevent the progression of malaria symptoms, mitigate their severity, and potentially prevent fatalities.