Now that we have officially entered Summer in the Cayman Islands and families and individuals are taking vacations, and a lot of traveling takes place, especially to the Florida regions. It is primitive that precautions are taken to ensure, especially with the rising malaria cases in the US.
Florida and Texas have reported locally acquired malaria cases, marking the first spread of the disease within the United States in two decades. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is actively monitoring additional cases.
However, the risk of contracting malaria in the US remains extremely low. All five patients, four in Florida and one in Texas, have received treatment. Malaria is transmitted through mosquito bites and cannot be transferred between humans. Anopheles mosquitoes in various parts of the US can transmit malaria if they have bitten an infected person.
The risk is higher in areas where mosquitoes survive most of the year and where travelers from malaria-endemic regions are present. Symptoms of malaria include fever, sweat, and chills. It is crucial to treat malaria with appropriate medications promptly. To prevent mosquito bites, it is recommended to use insect repellent and wear protective clothing.
The CDC is collaborating with Florida and Texas health departments, and the recently diagnosed and treated individuals are showing signs of improvement. Healthcare professionals in the affected areas are advised to consider malaria a possibility in individuals with unexplained fever, even if they have no international travel history.
In response to the cases, Florida has issued an alert regarding mosquito-borne illnesses, urging residents and visitors to eliminate standing water where mosquitoes can breed and wear protective clothing.
