Authorities in Florida’s Sarasota County have made a concerning discovery: multiple mosquitoes have tested positive for malaria at a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lab. This comes after four cases of locally-acquired malaria were reported in Florida, along with one in Texas. It marks the first instances of the mosquito-borne illness being transmitted within the U.S. since 2003.
Sarasota County Mosquito Management Services revealed that three mosquitoes carrying the malaria-causing parasite were found in the same woodlot. These mosquitoes were among more than a hundred samples that have been sent to the CDC for testing. The county has focused its eradication efforts in that area, aiming to eliminate the Anopheles mosquitoes responsible for spreading malaria through various spraying methods, including trucks, aircraft, and manual efforts.
The county stated, “Efforts continue to test more Anopheles from all areas of concern as well as treatments.”
The report of mosquitoes testing positive was initially published by the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
The CDC spokesperson confirmed that they have received mosquito specimens from both Florida and Texas to support their investigations into the cases. This led to the issuance of a nationwide health advisory by the agency.
In Texas, so far, all mosquitoes have tested negative for the parasite. The Texas Department of State Health Services spokesperson mentioned that a single case was reported this month in a resident who hadn’t traveled outside the state. An investigation determined that the patient contracted the parasite while in Cameron County, although the case was a resident of another county.
Both the Texas and Florida health departments’ spokespersons did not confirm whether additional suspected cases are under investigation in their respective states.
Malaria symptoms can take weeks to appear after initial infection. Early symptoms resemble the flu, such as fever, headache, and fatigue. However, untreated cases can quickly become dangerous. The World Health Organization estimates that 619,000 people died from malaria worldwide in 2021, with the illness being most common in tropical climates.
Anopheles Mosquitoes
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the CDC tracked hundreds of malaria cases reported in the U.S. each year. These cases were mostly associated with recent international travel and were typically reported in the summer and fall. There are rare instances of “airport” malaria cases, where mosquitoes may travel on airplanes or transmission occurs through contaminated blood transfusions.
It’s important to note that humans cannot spread malaria to others like a cold or the flu. Mosquitoes become carriers of the parasite by feeding on infected human blood. The parasite then multiplies within the mosquito before being transmitted to new humans through subsequent blood meals.
While the CDC believes that the risk of further local spread of malaria is extremely low nationwide, it acknowledges that Anopheles mosquitoes capable of spreading malaria are present in many parts of the country.
In its advisory, the CDC urges health professionals to consider the diagnosis of malaria in individuals with a fever of unknown origin, regardless of international travel history, especially if they have been to areas with recent locally acquired malaria cases.
The last local outbreak of malaria in the U.S. occurred in 2003 among residents of Florida’s Palm Beach County. Authorities raced to trap and test Anopheles mosquitoes while intensifying efforts to control mosquito populations. However, none of the collected mosquitoes showed evidence of the malaria parasite in CDC testing.
CDC officials wrote at the time, “This outbreak demonstrates the potential for reintroduction of malaria into the United States despite intensive surveillance, vector-control activities, and local public health response to educate clinicians and the community.”
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