Vox senior journalist Keren Landman covers public health, infectious diseases, health workers, and health justice.
Epidemiologist Keren. Late May malaria attacked Sarasota County. Second mid-June. Cameron County, Texas reported malaria June 23.
It's rare. Malaria-free US. Worldwide travel caused all 2,000 US malaria cases. Florida and Texas defendants didn't travel. Both states had domestic infections.
Three cases should not worry US malaria transmission experts. Local broadcasts. Pre-outbreak mosquitoes infect many.
Even if this isn't widespread, it's a reminder that malaria could return to the US, and our public health infrastructure should be ready.
During 1985–2011, P. falciparum killed 10 times more Americans than vivax. Hard Vivax.
This infection causes life-threatening brain enlargement, lung congestion, and renal failure.
Flu-like symptoms, intermittent fever. Vivax malaria is sneakier. Parasites hide. East Africa, South Asia, and northern South America have the most vivax malaria.
1950s DDT spraying eliminated malaria. Many US Anopheles mosquitoes spread all malaria types.
Preventing malaria: Air conditioning and window screens lessen midnight mosquito bites in America. US malaria is rare. Good conditions can spread US malaria.