NEW YORK, BRONX (ORDO News) — In a concerning development, Arkansas has reported its first case of locally acquired malaria in at least four decades. The patient, whose identity remains undisclosed, resides in Saline County and had not recently traveled abroad.
This marked the fourth instance of locally acquired malaria in the United States this year, raising alarm bells about the disease potentially reestablishing itself in the country after nearly two decades of relative absence.
The situation in Arkansas is particularly noteworthy due to its historical context. Dr. Naveen Patil, the deputy health officer for the state, confirmed that this local malaria case is the first detected in Arkansas since at least 1980. He stated, “[It’s been] maybe 30 to 40 years from since we’ve been tracking; we have not had a case of locally-acquired malaria in our state.”
While Arkansas has reported five other malaria cases this year, these were all linked to international travel. The emergence of a locally acquired case has prompted authorities to take swift action, including capturing and testing local mosquitoes to determine the source of the infection.
Subsequently, areas with infected mosquitoes may undergo pesticide spraying to curb the spread of the disease.
Malaria is not transmitted directly from person to person but rather through mosquito vectors. When an infected mosquito bites a person with malaria, it can acquire the parasite and subsequently transmit it to other humans. Locally acquired malaria cases in the US had dwindled since 2003, when an outbreak occurred in Florida, leading to eight infections.
However, sporadic cases still emerged due to travelers returning from malaria-endemic regions.
This year, concerns arose as Florida reported seven locally acquired malaria cases in Sarasota County. Additionally, Texas reported a case in a 21-year-old border guard stationed along the Rio Grande, describing a nightmarish experience of mosquito bites leading to fever and vomiting.
Maryland also reported a case in a resident living near Washington D.C. These cases underscore the potential resurgence of malaria in the US due to international travel and the entry of infected mosquitoes.
Malaria, caused by a parasite transmitted through mosquito bites, presents with symptoms like fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, fatigue, and nausea.
Without prompt treatment, it can progress to severe complications, including anemia and organ failure, potentially proving fatal. Globally, malaria remains a significant public health concern, with 619,000 deaths recorded in 2021.
In response to the rising threat, the World Health Organization recently approved a new, more effective malaria vaccine developed by the University of Oxford. This marks a crucial step in combatting the disease, which continues to impact millions of lives worldwide.
However, the emergence of locally acquired cases in the US underscores the importance of ongoing vigilance, mosquito control measures, and public health efforts to prevent the resurgence of malaria within the country.
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News agencies contributed to this report, edited and published by ORDO News editors.
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