Five people in Florida and Texas have contracted malaria while in the US, according to an alert issued by the (CDC) on Monday. It is the first locally transmitted malaria outbreak in the US in two decades.
What do we know about the current outbreak?
Four people in Florida and one person in Texas have been diagnosed with malaria in the past two months. All have received treatment and are doing well. None of the individuals recently travelled abroad, meaning they acquired the disease locally.
The US eradicated malaria in but the mosquitoes capable of spreading the disease still roam much of the country. As such, it is most likely the current outbreak began when someone became infected while abroad and then brought the disease back to the US, says at Georgetown University in Washington DC.
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It is possible there are additional undiagnosed malaria cases, but widespread transmission is unlikely given efforts to contain the outbreak. 鈥淚 think it is always sort of bad form to guess how many jellybeans are in the jar,鈥� says Carlson. 鈥淏ut my gut feel is there is not a ton of community transmission.鈥�
How concerning is the recent outbreak?
Globally, there more than 240 million cases of malaria occur each year, over 95 per cent of which are in Africa. By comparison, local transmission of malaria in the US is very rare and has occurred before without major consequences, says at Northwell Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. The last locally acquired cases occurred in 2003 when eight people in Florida contracted the disease.
鈥淭he spread was contained, and it did not become a widespread issue,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 important to monitor [the current situation], but I don鈥檛 believe there is a reason for concern at this time.鈥�
Public health officials in Florida and Texas are actively monitoring for cases. They are also implementing mosquito control measures such as insecticides to kill any potentially infectious insects. Additionally, residents in both areas are being asked to drain any standing water from flowerpots, pool covers, gutters and other containers where mosquitoes may breed.
鈥淎fter we push diseases past elimination or eradication, part of the job of public health is sometimes they pop back up and you got to deal with it,鈥� says Carlson. 鈥淲e know how to deal with an outbreak like this. Something would have to go majorly wrong for malaria to become endemic again.鈥�
What are the symptoms of malaria?
Most malaria cases are symptomatic, and people usually fall ill between 10 days and four weeks after infection. Common symptoms include fever, chills, headaches, body aches, fatigue and sometimes nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea.
If left untreated, malaria can lead to seizures, kidney failure, coma and death. There are five malaria-causing parasites and the one responsible for the recent US outbreaks 鈥� Plasmodium vivax 鈥� is one of the least likely to cause severe disease.
How is malaria treated?
According to the CDC, P. vivax infections should initially be treated with chloroquine, a drug capable of killing the parasite. Severe disease can be treated using IV-delivered artesunate, the only medication approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for serious malaria infections. The CDC is advising health authorities to access these drugs and develop a plan for rapidly diagnosing and treating malaria, and says that anyone who develops symptoms of malaria should contact their health care provider.
How can people protect themselves from malaria?
The most effective way to prevent malaria is by avoiding mosquito bites. Strategies include wearing insect repellent, covering arms and legs when outside and fixing broken screens on windows, doors or porches.
While people in areas with cases have a slightly heightened risk of malaria, the largest threat of infections remains travelling abroad, says Newman. On average, about 2000 people in the US are diagnosed each year with internationally acquired malaria. 鈥淭he risk of contracting malaria in the United States still remains extremely low,鈥� says Newman.
