Texas, Florida Register First Malaria Cases Since 2003: CDC

The United States has seen five cases of malaria spread by mosquitos in the last two months — the first time there's been local spread in 20 years, the Associated Press (AP) reported.

Photo Insert: Health officials are warning doctors, especially those in southern states where the weather is more friendly to the tropical mosquito that spreads malaria, to be aware of the possibility of infection.

There were four cases detected in Florida and one in Texas, according to a health alert issued Monday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Malaria is caused by a parasite that spreads through mosquito bites. Infected people can suffer fever, chills and flu-like illness.

If it goes untreated, infected people can develop severe complications and die. The largest death toll in recent years has been seen in children in sub-Saharan Africa.

Health officials are warning doctors, especially those in southern states where the weather is more friendly to the tropical mosquito that spreads malaria, to be aware of the possibility of infection.

They also should think about how to access the IV drug that is the first-line treatment for severe malaria in the US, the CDC said.

The agency said that the people who were diagnosed received treatment and “are improving.” About 2,000 US cases of malaria are diagnosed each year — the vast majority from travelers coming from countries where malaria commonly spreads.

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