‘Locally Acquired’ Malaria Outbreak in Florida Infects 6 People in Sarasota County
Florida was the epicenter of an outbreak of malaria, the first time the tropical disease was contracted in the state in 20 years.
Six cases of “locally acquired” malaria were reported in southwest Florida in May and June, according to the Florida Department of Health (FDOH).
All six cases were localized in Sarasota County—halfway between Tampa and Ft. Myers.
The health department said that all six individuals contracted the same strain of malaria and that they were treated and have recovered.
Adult mosquitoes are seen through a fluorescence microscope. (Jacquelyn Martin/AP Photo/File)
There have been no new malaria cases reported in Florida as of July 8, according to FDOH’s Florida Abrovirus Surveillance report, as well as no new cases of any tracked mosquito-borne illnesses such as West Nile, Dengue, and Zika Fever….