Malaria symptoms to watch for and 11 other things to know about the disease
Five cases of malaria spread by mosquitos have been reported in the last two months, and four of those cases were in Florida.
The Florida Department of Health announced a statewide mosquito-borne illness advisory late Monday after two new cases of malaria were confirmed in Sarasota County.
The first Sarasota County case was reported the week of May 21-27, and the second during the week of June 11-17, according to the Florida Department of Health. All four people who were infected have been treated and have recovered.
4 cases of malaria reported in Sarasota: Mosquito-borne illness advisory issued for Florida because of Sarasota malaria cases
It's the first time there’s been local spread of malaria in the United States in 20 years. The fifth case was reported in southern Texas, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Here's what you should know about malaria and the cases in Florida:
How is malaria transmitted?
Malaria is transmitted through infected mosquitoes.
In Florida, malaria is transmitted through infected Anopheles mosquitoes. The cause of malaria in these cases has been identified as the Plasmodium vivax species. Effective treatment is available through hospitals and other health care providers, according to the Florida Department of Health.
Is malaria contagious?
No. Malaria is not spread from person to person, and it cannot be sexually transmitted, according to the Centers for Disease Control. You cannot get malaria from casual contact with malaria-infected people.
Infected mothers can transmit parasites to their child during pregnancy before or during delivery.
While rare, transfusion-transmitted malaria does happen and when it does, it is a potential severe complication in blood recipients. On average, only one case of transfusion-transmitted malaria occurs in the United States every two years, the CDC said.
How can you avoid getting malaria?
Residents throughout Florida should take precautions by applying bug spray, avoiding areas with high mosquito populations, and wearing long pants and shirts when possible — especially during sunrise and sunset when mosquitos are most active.
What are the symptoms of malaria?
Symptoms of malaria include:
Fever and flu-like illness, including shaking chills, sweats, headache, muscle aches, and tiredness.
Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea are possible.
Malaria may cause anemia and jaundice (yellow coloring of the skin and eyes).
Anyone with symptoms of fever, chills, sweats, nausea/vomiting and headache should seek immediate medical attention, the Florida Health Department said.
How did malaria get to Sarasota? Answers to questions you may have about the disease
How soon could you feel sick after being bitten by infected mosquito?
There is a huge range on when you could feel any effects.
For most people, symptoms begin 10 days to four weeks after infection, although a person may feel ill as early as seven days or as late as one year later. Two kinds of malaria, P. vivax and P. ovale, can occur again, which is called relapsing malaria.
In P. vivax and P. ovale infections, some parasites can remain dormant in the liver for several months up to about four years after a person is bitten by an infected mosquito. When these parasites come out of hibernation and begin invading red blood cells, the person becomes sick.
How do you know if you have malaria?
The surest way to know whether you have malaria is to have a diagnostic test where a drop of blood is examined under the microscope for the presence of malaria parasites.
If you are sick and there is any suspicion of malaria, a test should be performed without delay, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
Is there a treatment if you have malaria?
Yes. Malaria can be cured with prescription drugs. The type of drugs and length of treatment depend on the type of malaria, where the person was infected, their age, whether they are pregnant, and how sick they are at the start of treatment.
The disease should be treated early in its course, before it becomes serious and life-threatening.
If you get malaria, do you have it for the rest of your life?
Not necessarily. In general, if you are correctly treated for malaria, the parasites are eliminated and you are no longer infected with malaria.
However, the disease can continue if it is not treated or if it is treated with the wrong drug. Some drugs are not effective because the parasite is resistant to them. Some people with malaria may be treated with the right drug, but at the wrong dose or for too short a period of time, the CDC said.
Two types (species) of parasites, Plasmodium vivax and P. ovale, have liver stages and can remain in the body for years without causing sickness. If not treated, these liver stages may reactivate and cause malaria attacks months or years later.
People diagnosed with P. vivax or P. ovale are often given a second drug to help prevent relapses.
How dangerous is malaria?
Malaria can very rapidly become a severe and life-threatening disease.
If not promptly treated, the infection can become severe and may cause kidney failure, seizures, mental confusion, coma, and death, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
Is there a malaria vaccine?
Attempts at producing an effective malaria vaccine and vaccine clinical trials are ongoing, the CDC said.
The malaria parasite is a complex organism with a complicated life cycle. The parasite has the ability to evade the body's immune system, making vaccine development difficult.
There are anti-malarial drugs available for use if you're traveling
Many effective antimalarial drugs are available. Your health-care provider will help you decide on the best drug for you, if any, based on your travel plans, medical history, age, drug allergies, pregnancy status, and other factors.
To allow enough time for some of the drugs to become effective and for a pharmacy to prepare any special doses of medicine (especially for children and infants), you may need to visit your health-care provider four to six weeks before travel.
Other malaria medicines only need to be started the day before travel and so last-minute travelers can still benefit from a visit to their health-care provider before traveling.
Malaria in people who are pregnant
Malaria in pregnant women can be more severe than in women who are not pregnant.
Malaria can increase the risk for serious pregnancy problems, including prematurity, miscarriage, and stillbirth.
Contributor: Anne Snabes
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Malaria symptoms. How dangerous is it? Answers to your questions
