Malaria continues to spread in Florida, and current cases have reached 7

The epidemic in Florida and one unrelated case from June make up the first locally acquired malaria cases to be reported in the US in 20 years.

State health officials announced this week that a seventh person has been identified as having malaria that was contracted locally in Sarasota County, Florida. Authorities in the Sunshine State initially reported the rare epidemic in May, and it is already in its third month. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a health notice to physicians after Florida had discovered four instances by the end of June, referring to locally acquired malaria cases in the US as a "public health emergency."

The epidemic in Florida and one unrelated case from June make up the first locally acquired malaria cases to be reported in the US in 20 years. If untreated, locally acquired malaria can be fatal. The most recent incidence, in 2003, was a little outbreak that at least seven persons in Palm Beach were infected with. People with air conditioning and screen windows greatly reduce transmission. As a result, outbreaks in the US frequently end.

According to Sarasota Memorial Hospital's infectious disease specialist, Dr. Manuel Gordillo, some of the local patients have required more intensive care since their low blood counts, particularly platelets, put them at danger for bleeding. One of the side effects of malaria is renal kidney failure, which has occurred in a few of them.