Florida: 2023 Malaria

[Mary Wilson]

June 22, 2023
Jim Wappes

The Florida Department of Health (DOH) this week issued a mosquito warning after officials confirmed two cases of locally acquired malaria in the state, the first in 20 years.

People in Sarasota and Manatee counties contracted the mosquito-borne infection in late May. One of the patients has been treated and released, and the other is still being treated, the DOH said in a news release.

Officials confirmed that the cases are caused by the Plasmodium vivax malaria parasite, which is not as fatal as other malaria species. "Only infected Anopheles mosquitoes can transmit malaria to humans," the DOH said. It added, "Individuals in this area with symptoms of fever, chills, sweats, nausea/vomiting, and headache should seek immediate medical attention." ...

https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/malaria/florida-reports-2-locally-acquired-malaria-cases

[Mary Wilson]

HEALTH OFFICIALS ISSUE MOSQUITO- BORNE ILLNESSES ALERT

Florida Department of Health
June 19, 2023

Sarasota, Fla –The Florida Department of Health in Sarasota County and Manatee County (DOH-Sarasota and DOH-Manatee) have issued a mosquito-borne illness alert for Sarasota and Manatee counties. 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. Residents in these areas 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. This case has been identified as the P. vivax species of malaria, which is not as fatal as other species. 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.

DOH-Sarasota and DOH-Manatee continue to advise the public to remain diligent in their personal mosquito protection efforts by remembering to “Drain and Cover.”

DRAIN standing water to stop mosquitoes from multiplying.

• Drain water from garbage cans, house gutters, buckets, pool covers, coolers, toys, flowerpots, or any other containers where sprinkler or rainwater has collected.
• Discard old tires, drums, bottles, cans, pots and pans, broken appliances and other items that aren't being used.
• Empty and clean birdbaths and pet's water bowls at least once or twice a week
• Protect boats and vehicles from rain with tarps that don’t accumulate water.
• Maintain swimming pools in good condition and keep appropriately chlorinated.
  
  Empty plastic swimming pools when not in use. ...

https://www.floridahealth.gov/diseas...-6-19-2023.pdf

[Shiloh]

Source: https://www.floridahealth.gov/newsro...nesses.pr.html

The Florida Department of Health Issues Mosquito-Borne Illnesses Advisory

June 26, 2023


Tallahassee, Fla. — Today, Florida Department of Health (Department) is issuing a statewide mosquito-borne illness advisory following four confirmed and recovered local cases of malaria in Sarasota County. All individuals have been treated and have recovered. Malaria is transmitted through infected mosquitoes. Residents throughout the state should take precautions by applying bug spray, avoiding areas with high mosquito populations, and wearing long pants and shirts when possible - especially during sunrise and sunset when mosquitos are most active...

[Shiloh]

Source: https://nbc-2.com/news/health/2023/0...d-in-sarasota/

Six locally acquired malaria cases reported in Sarasota
by Mariana Ortiz
11:41 AM EDT, Thu July 06, 2023

SARASOTA COUNTY, Fla. Two new locally acquired malaria cases have been reported this week.

According to the Florida Health and Florida Arbovirus Surveillance, two new cases were reported between June 25 and July 1.

On June 19, The FDOH (DOH-Sarasota and DOH-Manatee) issued a mosquito-borne illness alert for Sarasota and Manatee counties after reporting two malaria cases. As of July 6, a total of six cases have been reported.

A map shared by FDOH shows that there are two cases of malaria. However, a second map shows that there are 6 cases and that three malaria-positive mosquitoes were located between Manatee and Sarasota County...

[Shiloh]

Source: https://wusfnews.wusf.usf.edu/health...arasota-county

Health officials report a seventh case of malaria in Sarasota County
WUSF Public Media - WUSF 89.7 | By Rick Mayer
Published July 18, 2023 at 12:47 PM EDT


Sarasota and Manatee counties remain under mosquito-borne illness alert. Polk and Orange counties are under advisories. Meantime, a third case of dengue was confirmed in Miami-Dade.

Health officials have confirmed one new case of locally acquired malaria in north Sarasota County this past week, for a total of seven this year.

The new case was listed in the Florida Department of Health’s weekly arbovirus report for July 9-15...

[Shiloh]

Source: https://news.wgcu.org/section/enviro...ase-in-decades


Eighth malaria case confirmed in Sarasota equals largest U.S. outbreak of the disease in decades
WGCU | By Tom Bayles
Published July 20, 2023 at 4:16 PM EDT


A seventh Sarasota-area resident has been infected with malaria acquired by a mosquito bite in town, which adds an eighth person to tie the largest U.S. group to become infected with the parasitic virus in nearly a century.

Malaria remains one of the world’s greatest public health concerns, infecting about 219 million people each year. Untreated, the virus is often deadly and kills on average about 660,000 of those infected — mostly children in Africa.

Malaria is transmitted by a parasite left behind in the saliva of an infected mosquito during a sting.

The first case of malaria in Sarasota County this year was diagnosed on May 26 and more followed; nearly a month later a Cameron County, Texas, man was identified with the virus. There is no evidence that the cases are related, health officials say, and everybody involved has been treated at hospitals and are recovering.

[sharon sanders]

Drain and Cover

Vector-Borne Disease Surveillance Coordinator

• (850) 901-6887
• Fax
  (850) 414-6894
• Division of Disease Control and Health Protection (DCHP)
  
  4052 Bald Cypress Way
  
  Bin A-12
  
  Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1720

Mosquito-Borne Disease Surveillance
Mosquito-Borne Disease Educational Materials

Whether you’re at home or traveling abroad, preventing mosquito bites is the best way to reduce the risk of mosquito-borne disease.

Mosquitoes can be found in many different environments and you may not always notice when you have been bitten. Mosquito activity in Florida can be year round. The following are some steps that can be taken to help prevent mosquito bites.

DRAIN: Water from garbage cans, housegutters, pool covers, coolers, toys, flower pots, or any other containers where sprinkler or rain water has collected.

DISCARD: Old tires, drums, bottles, cans, pots and pans, broken appliances, and other items that aren't being used.

EMPTY and CLEAN: Birdbaths and pet's water bowls at least once or twice a week.

PROTECT: Boats and vehicles from rain with tarps that don't accumulate water.

MAINTAIN: The water balance (poolchemistry) of swimming pools.Empty plastic swimming pools when not in use. Repair broken screens on windows, doors, porches, and patios.

CLOTHING: If you must be outside whenmosquitoes are active, cover up. Wear shoes, socks, long pants, and long sleeves.




REPELLENT: Apply mosquito repellent to bare skin and clothing.

Always use repellents according to the label. Repellents with DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, para-menthane-diol, and IR3535 are effective.

Use netting to protect children younger than 2 months.

https://www.floridahealth.gov/diseases-and-conditions/mosquito-borne-diseases/prevention.html

[Shiloh]

Source: https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/...r/70472908007/


Though malaria cases are waning, you should still take precautions, Sarasota County says
Anne Snabes
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
July 27, 2023 1:27pm ET

If Sarasota County continues to see no new malaria cases, the local mosquito-borne illness alert is expected to be lifted in early September, the county’s communications director said Thursday.

Sarasota and Manatee counties have been under the alert since June 19 because of an outbreak of locally acquired malaria. A total of seven cases have been reported in Sarasota County, but no new cases were reported last week. The same was true during the week of July 2-8.

Sarasota County and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention hosted a media briefing on the outbreak on Thursday. Jamie Carson, the county’s director of communications, said the mosquito-borne illness alert will remain in place until the county has gone approximately eight weeks without new cases. She said the last case was on July 13, so the alert could potentially be lifted around Sept. 7.

Carson said that hopefully Sarasota County is on “the right track,” but she noted that community members are still encouraged to take precautions against mosquito bites.
Jamie Carson, Sarasota County's director of communications, speaks to members of the media in Sept. 2022.

Under the alert, Sarasota-Manatee residents are being advised to apply mosquito repellant and to avoid being outside at nighttime if possible. If you can’t avoid it, you should wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants and insect repellant on your clothing, according to Wade Brennan, the manager of Sarasota County Mosquito Management Services.

All seven cases were in the Desoto Acres and Kensington Park areas in north Sarasota County. The individuals have been treated and are recovering, Carson said.

She also told members of the media that three of the cases were in homeless individuals. The Florida Department of Health’s Sarasota County office has been working with local homeless service organizations, providing them with information and materials. Sixty mosquito bed nets and more than 1,000 cans of insect repellant have been provided to homeless individuals, Carson said.

The onset of the first case of locally acquired malaria was in May, the following five were in June and the most recent one was in July, according to a Florida Department of Health report. Kelly Searle, a malaria researcher at the University of Minnesota, told the Herald-Tribune that seeing fewer cases and having weeks where there are no cases “is definitely a good sign.” She said it’s an indication that mosquito control efforts are working...