![]() ![]() Almost all cases of malaria in the United States are imported and occur in people traveling from countries with malaria transmission, many from sub-Saharan Africa or South Asia. Worldwide, more than 240 million cases of malaria occur each year (95% in Africa). Though rare, malaria also can be transmitted congenitally from mother to fetus or to the neonate at birth, through blood transfusion or organ transplantation, or through unsafe needle-sharing practices. Malaria is caused by any of five species of protozoan parasite of the genus Plasmodium: P. Malaria is a serious and potentially fatal disease transmitted through the bite of an infective female anopheline mosquito. Individuals can take steps to prevent mosquito bites and control mosquitoes at home to prevent malaria and other mosquito-borne illnesses. Promptly diagnosing and treating people with malaria can prevent progression to severe disease or death and limit ongoing transmission to local Anopheles mosquitoes. Clinicians practicing in areas of the United States where locally acquired malaria cases have occurred should follow guidance from their state and local health departments. In addition to routinely considering malaria as a cause of febrile illness among patients with a history of international travel to areas where malaria is transmitted, clinicians should consider a malaria diagnosis in any person with an unexplained cause of fever, regardless of their travel history, particularly in patients with new anemia or thrombocytopenia. The risk of malaria transmission is higher in areas where local climatic conditions allow the Anopheles mosquito to survive during most of or the entire year and in locations with travelers from malaria-endemic areas. However, Anopheles mosquito vectors, found throughout many regions of the country, are capable of transmitting malaria if they feed on a malaria-infected person (2). Despite recent cases, the risk of locally acquired malaria remains very low in the United States. vivax malaria were identified in Palm Beach County, FL (1). Surveillance for additional cases of malaria, as well as malaria-related mosquito surveillance and control, will continue in all three states for a period of 8 weeks following the most recent case in each state.īefore this year, locally acquired mosquito-borne malaria had not occurred in the United States since 2003, when eight cases of locally acquired P. All patients received treatment and are improving clinically. vivax within close geographic proximity in Florida, with the last case identified in mid-July 2023, and one case of P. ![]() This follows the identification of two states’ unrelated episodes of local transmission of malaria-seven cases of P. falciparum malaria identified in the National Capital Region this month. The most effective way to prevent malaria in the United States is for travelers to malaria-endemic areas to take appropriate steps to prevent acquiring malaria while traveling-including taking medications to prevent malaria-and ensuring early diagnosis and treatment of imported cases of malaria and preventing mosquito bites.ĬDC is collaborating with the Maryland Department of Health on the investigation of a single case of locally transmitted P. public for locally acquired mosquito-transmitted malaria remains very low. In addition to routinely considering malaria as a cause of febrile illness among patients with a history of international travel to areas where malaria is transmitted, clinicians should consider a malaria diagnosis in any person with an unexplained cause of fever, regardless of their travel history. falciparum malaria can rapidly cause severe illness and even death if not quickly diagnosed, therefore rapid diagnosis and treatment is imperative. ![]() vivax malaria, but there have been no reports of local transmission of malaria in Florida or Texas since mid-July 2023. As an update to that report, to date, Florida has identified seven cases and Texas has identified one case of locally acquired P. vivax) malaria in Florida and Texas described in the HAN Health Advisory 494 issued on June 26, 2023. falciparum) species and is unrelated to the cases involving local transmission of Plasmodium vivax (P. This case was caused by the Plasmodium falciparum (P. On August 18, 2023, a single case of locally acquired malaria was reported in Maryland in the National Capital Region. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is issuing this Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Update to share new information with clinicians, public health authorities, and the public about locally acquired malaria cases identified in the United States. ![]()
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