Explained | Why are locally acquired cases of malaria in the U.S. of concern? Premium

The United States’ Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has identified locally acquired malaria cases in Florida and Texas in the last two months. This is the first time that such malaria cases have been reported from the U.S. in the last twenty years

The story so far: TheUnited States’ Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has identified locally acquired malaria cases in Florida and Texas in the last two months. This is the first time that such malaria cases have been reported from the U.S. in the last twenty years.

The CDC has also raised concerns about a potential rise in imported malaria cases with increased international travel over the summer.

Locally acquired malaria denotes cases where the disease presents in patients with no travel history, indicating that it has been acquired within their geographical area. Although malaria does not occur in all warm climates, according to the CDC, most cases are found in parts of Africa, Central and South America, the Caribbean, Oceania, and South, West, and Southeast Asia. A locally acquired case would mean that the mosquito transmitting the disease first bit a person carrying the malaria-causing parasite and then another person, thus transmitting the disease locally.

The CDC in an advisory issued on June 26 recommended that medical health professionals consider a malaria diagnosis for patients with fever of unknown origin, regardless of their travel history. The agency also said that patients suspected of having malaria should be urgently evaluated in an appropriate medical facility.

Florida has reported a total of four locally acquired malaria cases this year, with two of them reported as recently as between June 18 and 24, 2023 from Sarasota County. The State also reported 23 malaria cases in 2023 which were associated with international travel.

One case of locally acquired malaria has been identified in Cameron County, Texas.

According to the CDC, suspected or confirmed locally acquired malaria is a public health emergency.