US CDC issues alert after several local malaria cases detected

Washington, June 26 (EFE).- The United States’ health protection agency issued an alert to the public and public health authorities on Monday after detecting four locally acquired malaria cases in Texas and Florida states.

This is the first time in 20 years that locally transmitted malaria cases have been detected in the US, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said in a statement.

Four cases have been confirmed in Florida and one in Texas in the last two months with no evidence to suggest a connection between them, the government agency said.

Active surveillance for additional cases in both states is ongoing, according to CDC.

“All patients have received treatment and are improving,” it added.

However, the agency said that despite the detection of the cases, “the risk of locally acquired malaria remains extremely low” in the country.

The CDC recommended that people take measures to prevent mosquito bites and control mosquitoes at home to prevent malaria and other mosquito-borne diseases.

Malaria is a febrile illness caused by the protozoan parasite and transmitted to humans by the bite of an infective female anopheline mosquito.

Texas records an average of more than 120 travel-related malaria cases every year.

According to local media reports, the last locally transmitted case in the state was reported in 1994.

Meanwhile, the most recent outbreak in Florida occurred in Palm Beach County in 2003, when eight cases were recorded. EFE

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