Six cases of locally acquired malaria have been reported in Florida in the months of May and June, according to the latest report from the Florida Department of Health. The cases were reported in Sarasota County, which is located on the state’s Gulf Coast. Another case was also reported in far southwestern Texas, although health officials believe the incidents are unrelated.
Locally acquired cases of malaria are extremely rare in the United States, which is why these cases have raised concerns among health authorities. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Florida Department of Health issued advisories over the cases on June 26. Sarasota County and its neighboring Manatee County are now under mosquito-borne illness alerts.
It is worth noting that on average, only about 2,000 cases of malaria are diagnosed annually nationwide, with the majority of cases occurring in people who have traveled to countries where malaria is more prevalent. The last locally acquired cases in the United States were reported in Palm Beach County, Florida, in 2003.
Despite the concerns, health officials emphasize that there is no reason to panic. According to Andrea Berry, an infectious disease specialist at the University of Maryland’s Malaria Research Program, a public health response has been initiated to contain the outbreaks. Health departments in the affected areas are informing the public and the medical community while implementing mosquito control measures.
The type of mosquitoes that carry malaria are present in many parts of the United States, particularly in warm and humid conditions. As climate change affects temperatures and rainfall patterns, these mosquitoes may move to new areas. Berry explains that health departments are taking appropriate measures to stop transmission and prevent the continued spread of the disease.
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