Counties remain on mosquito alert as 7th case detected

SARASOTA, Fla. (AP) — Sarasota County health officials have confirmed a seventh documented case of malaria.

The Florida Department of Health reported a new case of locally acquired malaria in Sarasota County during the week of July 9-15. This is on top of five cases last month and one case in May.

Sarasota County and Manatee County have been under mosquito-borne disease alert for nearly a month.

All seven people diagnosed have been treated and are recovering.

Sarasota County officials used planes, trucks and ground crews to apply insecticide to the area where the malaria cases were reported.

Mosquito control officers trap the insects and send them to federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for evaluation.

Approximately 2,000 cases of malaria in the United States are diagnosed each year, the vast majority among travelers from countries where malaria is commonly spread.

Since 1992, there have been 11 mosquito-caused malaria epidemics in the United States. The last occurred in 2003 in Palm Beach County, Florida, where eight cases were reported.

Additional information on malaria

Malaria is not transmitted from person to person.

Only infected Anopheles mosquitoes can transmit malaria to humans. This case was identified as the P. vivax species of malaria, which is not as deadly as the other species. Effective treatment is readily available from hospitals and other healthcare providers. People in this area with symptoms of fever, chills, sweating, nausea/vomiting, and headache should seek medical attention immediately.

DOH-Sarasota and DOH-Manatee continue to advise the public to remain diligent in their personal mosquito protection efforts by remembering to “drain and cover.”

DRAIN standing water to prevent mosquitoes from breeding.

• Empty the water from garbage cans, gutters, buckets, pool covers, coolers, toys, flower pots or any other container where rain or sprinkler water has collected.
• Throw away old tires, drums, bottles, cans, pots and pans, broken appliances, and other items that aren’t in use.
• Empty and clean bird baths and pet water bowls at least once or twice a week
• Protect boats and vehicles from the rain with covers that do not accumulate water.
• Maintain swimming pools in good condition and keep them properly chlorinated. Empty plastic pools when not in use