The Epinhood (TEH)

MALARIA – AMERICAS (07): USA (TEXAS) AUTOCHTHONOUS

A ProMED-mail post
http://www.promedmail.org
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
http://www.isid.org

Date: Fri 23 Jun 2023
Source: CBS News Texas [edited] https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/locally-acquired-malaria-case-confirmed-texas-state-agency-following-up/

The Texas Department of State Health Services confirmed a case of
malaria diagnosed in someone who spent time working outdoors in
Cameron County.

The state agency said the patient (who’s from Texas) had not traveled
outside of the country or state.

They’re working with local health departments to follow up on the case
and determine whether other people were exposed. So far, no other
locally acquired malaria cases have been identified in Texas.

Malaria is a serious and potentially fatal disease caused by a
protozoan parasite from the Plasmodium genus, which can be
transmitted through the bite of a mosquito of the genus Anopheles.
Almost all cases of malaria in the United States are imported and
occur in people who have traveled to or are coming from countries with
ongoing malaria transmission. Occasional locally acquired cases occur
in the United States when an Anopheles mosquito bites an infected
traveler and then bites someone else. Texas averages more than 120
travel-related malaria cases a year. The last locally acquired Texas
case occurred in 1994.

The most common symptoms of malaria are flu-like and include fever,
shaking chills, sweats, headache, body aches, nausea, and vomiting and
typically start 7 to 30 days after infection. Without treatment,
severe malaria can be life-threatening and can cause disorientation,
seizures and other neurological symptoms, low red blood cell counts
(anemia), acute respiratory distress syndrome, and kidney damage.

Recommendations for the public
• Protect yourself from all mosquito-borne diseases by preventing
mosquito bites.
• Wear EPA registered insect repellents whenever you go outside.
• Cover up with long-sleeved shirts and long pants, especially at
night when mosquitos are active.
• Keep mosquitoes out by keeping doors and windows closed and/or
installing window screens.
• Prevent mosquitoes from breeding by dumping out standing water,
keeping gutters clear, covering trash containers, regularly changing
water in pet dishes and bird baths, and using mosquito larvicide in
water that can’t be drained.
• If you are traveling, check your destination and consult your
healthcare provider to see if you should take prescription malaria
medication.

For more information
• Malaria (DSHS):
• Prevent mosquito borne disease (DSHS):

• About malaria (CDC):
• Malaria information and prophylaxis by country (CDC):