Explained: Malaria Detected In US For First Time In 20 Years. Why It Has Raised An Alarm

Malaria Cases In US: While thousands of malaria infections are detected in the US each year in people returning from abroad, locally acquired cases have been reported after 20 years.

The resurgence of locally acquired malaria cases in the United States after 20 years has caused an alarm among health officials. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, four cases have been found in Florida, while Texas has reported one case.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a health advisory for malaria. "Malaria is a medical emergency and should be treated accordingly," the CDC said in a health advisory.

As per the World Health Organization, there were 247 million cases of malaria in 2021, with most of them reported from African countries. In 2021, nearly 619,000 people died from malaria.

Why Has The Detection Of Just 5 Malaria Cases Caused An Alarm?

It is not that malaria cases are not reported in the US. Thousands of malaria cases are registered in the US each year but they are primarily in people returning from abroad.

In recent years, about 2,000 malaria cases have been reported annually in the US.

The development is concerning as there hasn't been any malaria cases locally in the US in 20 years.

The last time the US reported a locally-transmitted outbreak was in 2003, when eight cases were reported in Palm Beach, Florida.

The malaria species that has been identified in both Florida and Texas is Plasmodium Vivax. In severe cases, those infected with this type of species can develop life-threatening brain swelling, lung congestion, and kidney failure.

Authorities in Florida and Texas have advised residents to not let standing water accumulate, and make sure their window screens do not have holes in them.

Why Are Malaria Cases Being Detected In The US After So Many Years?

While the authorities have not given any particular reason behind the cases, health experts have cited climate change and shifting weather patterns to be a reason.

A report in Vox said climate change was leading to mosquito migration into new places worldwide, allowing malaria to settle in where it hasn't before.

"Though we know in general that climate can be one of many factors that can impact vector-borne diseases, in this situation, there is no compelling reason to think so," a CDC spokesperson told Vox.

A study published by The Lancet in 2021 had said rising global mean temperature would increase the "climatic suitability" of both malaria and dengue, particularly in already endemic areas.

"The predicted expansion towards higher altitudes and temperate regions suggests that outbreaks can occur in areas where people might be immunologically naive and public health systems unprepared. The population at risk of malaria and dengue will be higher in densely populated urban areas in the WHO African region, South-East Asia region, and the region of the Americas," the study noted.

What Guidelines Have The CDC Announced?

The CDC has asked people not to panic and said despite the recent cases, the risk of contracting malaria remains "extremely low" in the United States, according to a CNN report.

With more people travelling during the summer season, the CDC has said, there could be a rise in malaria cases in the US.

The health agency has advised doctors to consider malaria diagnosis in any person with a fever of unknown origin regardless of their travel history. What compounds the matter is that the range of symptoms of malaria mirrors that of common flu.

Typical malaria symptoms include fever, chills, headache, and fatigue. Symptoms usually start to show about 10 days to four weeks after contracting the infection.