Unusual Cluster of Malaria Cases Detected in Florida, US Mosquitoes Test Positive for Malaria
Florida health officials are grappling with an unusual cluster of locally acquired malaria cases in Sarasota. The recent discovery of three mosquitoes testing positive for malaria has raised concerns as it is the first time in two decades that US mosquitoes have been linked to malaria infections in the country.
So far, four cases of malaria have been confirmed in Florida, all in close proximity to each other. Authorities are currently investigating a possible fifth case, according to the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. In response to the outbreak, officials have intensified efforts to trap and test local mosquitoes. Over a hundred insects were sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for testing, with three of them testing positive for malaria.
To contain the outbreak, door-to-door efforts are underway to inform residents about the cases and raise awareness. Additionally, insecticide spraying from trucks and aircraft is being carried out to eliminate mosquito populations.
The mosquitoes responsible for transmitting the malaria parasite belong to the Anopheles genus. Multiple species of Anopheles mosquitoes have been found in at least 32 states in the US. The particular species of Anopheles mosquitoes involved in this cluster are of the nighttime biting variety, which are not typically active during the day or evenings. They also tend to breed and concentrate around freshwater swamps.
This recent cluster of locally acquired malaria cases in Sarasota, along with an unrelated case in Texas, marks the first time the parasite has spread within the US since 2003, when there was a cluster of cases in Palm Beach, Florida. Notably, during the Palm Beach outbreak, captured mosquitoes did not test positive for malaria. A similar investigation in 2002 in Loudon County, Virginia, revealed mosquitoes positive for malaria, the first time since 1957 that US mosquitoes linked to locally acquired cases were found to carry the malaria parasite.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a national health alert, urging healthcare providers to be vigilant and look for malaria cases in individuals without travel-related risks, especially in areas near the Florida and Texas cases. These clusters serve as a reminder of the potential for reintroduction and reemergence of malaria in the US due to global travel and climate change. However, the CDC emphasizes that the overall risk of locally acquired malaria in the United States remains extremely low. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation and implementing necessary measures to prevent further spread.