NewsDesk @bactiman63

In a follow-up on the locally transmitted malaria case in Sarasota County, Florida, one case of locally acquired malaria was reported this week in Sarasota County, according to the Florida Department of Health.

On May 26, 2023, DOH released information on the first confirmed local case of malaria, who was treated and has recovered. Since this advisory was issued, another case has been confirmed and the patient is being treated. Both cases were identified as Plasmodium vivax.

Residents in Sarasota and Manatee counties should take precautions, such as wearing long sleeve shirts and pants, applying bug spray, and avoiding areas with high mosquito populations, especially during sunrise and sunset when mosquitos are most active.

The Florida Department of Health (Department) is working closely with local partners and county mosquito control. Aerial and ground mosquito spraying is being conducted in these areas to mitigate the risk of further transmission.

Malaria is not transmitted from person to person. Only infected Anopheles mosquitoes can transmit malaria to humans.

Effective treatment is readily available through hospitals and other health care providers. Individuals in this area with symptoms of fever, chills, sweats, nausea/vomiting, and headache should seek immediate medical attention.

In addition to the locally transmitted malaria cases, DOH reports twenty-three cases of international travel-associated malaria in 2023–Countries of origin were: Burundi, Côte D’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo (2), Equatorial Guinea, Ghana (2), Kenya, multiple countries (4), Nicaragua (2), Nigeria (2), Pakistan, Sierra Leone (2), Sudan, and Uganda (3).

Counties reporting cases were: Broward (4), Duval, Hillsborough (4), Lee, Leon (2), Miami-Dade (5), Orange, Osceola, Pinellas (3), and Sarasota. Seven cases were reported in non-Florida residents.

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