4 Malaria Cases Reported In Florida, 5 Total In U.S.: Officials

SARASOTA, FL — Health officials this week confirmed five people in the United States recently caught malaria locally, including four people in Sarasota County. The confirmation marks the first time there's been local spread of the disease in 20 years.

The Florida Department of Health issued a statewide mosquito-borne illness advisory Monday after the agency confirmed the local cases of malaria. All four people were treated and recovered, officials said.

A fifth case was reported last week in Cameron County, Texas, about 1,300 miles from Sarasota County, according to Texas health officials. The person had spent time working outdoors and had not traveled out of the country, officials said.

Malaria is a serious and potentially fatal disease transmitted through mosquito bites. About 2,000 U.S. cases of malaria are diagnosed each year — the vast majority in travelers coming from countries where malaria commonly spreads.

Since 1992, there've been 11 outbreaks involving malaria from mosquitoes in the U.S. The last one occurred in 2003 in Palm Beach County, Florida, where eight cases were reported.

In Texas, the last locally acquired case occurred in 1994.

The most common symptoms of malaria are fever, chills, sweats, headache, body aches, nausea, and vomiting. Symptoms typically start seven to 30 days after infection. Without treatment, severe malaria can be life-threatening and can cause disorientation, seizures and other neurological symptoms, anemia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and kidney damage.

To help reduce the population of mosquitos, the Florida Department of Health provides a few recommendations:

• Drain and cover areas where water might accumulate.
• Drain pools of freshwater around the home and yard.
• Empty pet bowls, garbage cans, garbage can lids, bottles, tires and anything where freshwater has accumulated.

The agency also offered the following tips for preventing mosquito-borne illness:

• Use mosquito repellent that contains DEET (10 to 30 percent), picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, para-menthane-diol, 2-undecanone or IR3535 on bare skin and clothing.
• Wear shoes, socks, and long sleeves and pants.
• Use mosquito netting to protect children less than 2 months old.
• Check and repair screens on doors and windows to prevent mosquitoes from entering your home.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.