Locally Acquired Malaria Case Reported in Maryland, U.S.
In a surprising development, a resident of Maryland has contracted malaria without having recently traveled out of the country or to states where malaria has been detected, according to state health officials. This “locally acquired” case of malaria is the first of its kind in the state in decades.
The patient, a resident of the D.C. area, was admitted to a hospital due to fever and sweating. Dr. David Blythe, director of the health department’s Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Outbreak Response Bureau, stated that the patient was hospitalized briefly and subsequently released. Details including the patient’s age, gender, and exact location have not been disclosed.
The likelihood is that the patient contracted malaria by being bitten by a mosquito that had previously bitten someone who had traveled to a malaria-prone region, Blythe explained. This phenomenon, known as “local transmission,” occurs when a mosquito carrying the parasite responsible for malaria bites an infected individual and then bites someone else who has not traveled to a malaria-affected area.
It is important to note that this case of malaria in Maryland is distinct from the recent cases found in Florida and Texas. Earlier this year, eight cases of locally acquired malaria were reported in the United States, with seven cases in Florida and one case in Texas. Those cases marked the first instances of local transmission in the country in 20 years.
Malaria is a mosquito-borne disease caused by a parasite. While it was originally eliminated from the U.S. in the early 2000s, local doctors, such as Miriam Laufer from the University of Maryland, still treat cases of the disease regularly. Laufer explained that most cases in the U.S. are in travelers returning from regions where malaria transmission is prevalent. Each year, approximately 2,000 people in the U.S. are treated for malaria, with the majority of cases originating from subtropical countries.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has classified malaria as one of the world’s most severe public health problems. The disease can be life-threatening if left untreated and is responsible for approximately 620,000 deaths worldwide each year.
To prevent mosquito bites and the subsequent risk of contracting malaria while traveling, state health officials recommend using insect repellent containing DEET, wearing loose-fitting, long-sleeved clothing, keeping windows and doors closed or screened, and emptying standing water to prevent mosquito breeding.
While the risk of malaria in Maryland remains low, anyone experiencing unexplained fever should seek medical attention, advised Dr. Blythe.
This developing story is being closely monitored, and NBC Washington will provide further updates. For more information on malaria, visit Maryland’s health department and the CDC’s website.