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The United States has recorded five mosquito-borne infections with the pathogen of malaria in the country for the first time in 20 years. In the past two months, four cases have been identified in the immediate geographic area in the southeastern state of Florida, the US health authority CDC reported Monday (local time). An infection has also been detected in Texas.

Since 2003, the malaria pathogen has not been transmitted within the US by native Anopheles mosquitoes. This differentiates the cases of patients who become infected in malaria risk areas and then return to their country.

All patients are being treated and are already on the mend, the CDC said. Measures have been taken in the affected areas to monitor and control mosquitoes. Despite recently recorded infections, the risk of malaria infection in the US remains “extremely low”. In areas where climatic conditions allow the Anopheles mosquito to survive all year round, the risk is higher – especially if travelers from malaria risk areas are staying there.

95 percent in Africa

Malaria is caused by the so-called Plasmodium, which transmits infected mosquitoes to humans. Infected people often develop fever and chills and experience nausea, muscle and joint pain, and fatigue. In severe cases, there are also shortness of breath, cramps and bleeding. Most severely affected people die without medical treatment.

The WHO estimates that around 619,000 people will die from malaria worldwide by 2021, slightly less than the approximately 625,000 the year before. Cases of the disease rose to 247 million, but the rate of growth had slowed, according to the annual malaria report at the end of 2022. About 95 percent of illnesses and deaths were recorded in Africa.

About 80 percent of the deaths there were children under the age of five. The WHO region of Europe has been malaria-free since 2015. However, scientists expect that infectious diseases such as malaria and dengue fever will spread to the north due to climate change. (aeg/sda/dpa)