Florida and Texas are among the hardest hit states; the return of the disease to the country may be related to climate change
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) WE issued a health alert on Monday 3, after confirming the occurrence of five cases of malaria in the country; the first recorded local broadcasts in 20 years. Malaria is not endemic in the United States and cases may be related climate changes. The disease is typical of warmer, tropical or subtropical regions, where the climate favors the proliferation of the transmitting mosquito.
Four cases have been confirmed in Florida and one in Texas. According to the health authorities, the cases are not connected. Malaria is caused by such a parasite Plasmodium which reaches humans through the bite of a contaminated female Anopheles, also known as the mosquito’s nail. The disease initially manifests itself as the flu, with the first symptoms appearing nine to 14 days after infection.
Symptoms include fever, joint pain, headache, vomiting, seizures and coma. If left untreated, the disease can kill.
The CDC said all patients have received treatment and are recovering. Health authorities have recommended the implementation of mosquito surveillance and control measures in the affected areas. Florida has issued an alert after detecting cases of malaria, with calls on the population to empty containers with clean standing water, ideal for breeding mosquitoes. Texas has also issued a similar warning.
The CDC explained that “despite confirmed cases, the risk of local malaria transmission remains extremely low in the United States.” The last record dates back to 2003, when eight cases were identified in Palm Beach, also in Florida. Nearly all reported cases of malaria in the United States are imported from people traveling to countries with disease transmission.
In 2021, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), 619,000 malaria deaths were recorded worldwide, the vast majority in sub-Saharan Africa. In Brazil, most cases of malaria are concentrated in the Amazon region.
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
