Health department reports 2 more cases of locally acquired malaria in Sarasota County
The Florida Department of Health reported an additional two cases of locally acquired malaria in Sarasota County, bringing the county’s total to six cases.
Sarasota and Manatee counties have been under a mosquito-borne illness alert since June 19. County and health officials are encouraging residents to protect themselves from mosquitoes, including by applying bug spray, avoiding areas with large mosquito populations and wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants at nighttime.
The two additional cases were reported the week of June 25-July 1, according to a report released on Thursday.
Sarasota County has been experiencing an outbreak of locally acquired malaria, which means that the individuals contracted malaria from mosquitoes in the Sarasota area – not from insects in another country.
Such locally acquired cases are very rare, as the vast majority of malaria cases in the U.S. are in travelers or other people returning to the country from nations where there is transmission of malaria. The last outbreak of locally acquired malaria in the U.S. was in 2003, when Palm Beach County saw eight such cases.
The first Sarasota County case was reported the week of May 21-27, and the second during the week of June 11-17, according to Florida Department of Health reports. The third and fourth cases were reported the week of June 18-24.
Malaria in the US: With local cases in Florida, Texas, what to know about symptoms, treatment
Previous coverage: Malaria threat under attack by air and ground from Sarasota, Manatee mosquito control
Other news: Mote Marine establishes voluntary protection zone for sea turtles in Sarasota County
The manager of Sarasota County Mosquito Management Services said last week that contractors are conducting insecticide spray missions throughout the “area of concern,” which is in the northern part of the county, in the Desoto Acres and Kensington Park neighborhoods.
They are also spraying outside of that area. Manatee County Mosquito Control District has been spraying in the southwestern part of the county.
When Sarasota County reached four cases, the FDOH announced a statewide mosquito-borne illness advisory, which is a step below an alert. The agency encourages residents across the state to take precautions.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Florida health dept. reports 2 more malaria cases in Sarasota County
