Second case of malaria confirmed in the Sarasota-Manatee area

Anne Snabes, Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Updated ·3 min read
The Florida Department of Health in Sarasota and Manatee counties announced a mosquito-borne illness alert on Monday.
The Florida Department of Health in Sarasota and Manatee counties announced a mosquito-borne illness alert on Monday.

Health officials have issued a mosquito-borne illness alert for Sarasota and Manatee counties after a second case of malaria was identified in Sarasota County.

The Florida Department of Health’s Sarasota and Manatee County offices said a second case has been confirmed and the individual is being treated for the illness. An FDOH report shows that the case was reported the week of June 11-17. FDOH-Sarasota County spokesman Steve Huard said he didn't know if the person has been released from the hospital yet.

The department announced the first case in a May 26 press release, saying that it had confirmed a case of malaria in a person “who spent extensive time outdoors.” The agency said the person "was promptly treated at a hospital and has recovered." The case, which was in Sarasota County, was reported the week of May 21-27, according to an FDOH report.

The Department of Health said it's working closely with local partners and county mosquito control. Aerial and ground mosquito spraying is being conducted in the area to mitigate the risk of further transmission. Huard said he isn't authorized to say where exactly the new case was.

Sarasota County government posted on May 30 and June 2 that it planned to spray those nights in the area south of University Avenue, between Bradenton Road and North Lockwood Ridge Road. The county has posted several times since then about upcoming mosquito treatments, including on June 12, when it said it planned to spray in the area north of Myrtle Street, between Central Avenue and Taylor Avenue.

Sarasota and Manatee are two of five Florida counties where mosquito-borne illness health advisories have been issued this year, according to the Collier Mosquito Control District. Miami-Dade County has had two cases of dengue infection transmitted by local mosquitoes. In Orange County, half the chickens in a coop designed to monitor mosquito-spread diseases tested positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis, and several horses have shown to be infected with that disease in Polk County.

In a Monday press release, FDOH noted that malaria isn’t transmitted from person to person – only infected mosquitoes can transmit it to humans. The new Sarasota-Manatee case has been identified as the P. vivax species of malaria, which is not as fatal as other species, according to the Department of Health.

Treatment for malaria is readily available through hospitals and other health care providers. FDOH advised that individuals in the Sarasota-Manatee area with the symptoms of fever, chills, sweats, nausea/vomiting and headache seek immediate medical attention.

Health officials are advising members of the public to practice a set of preventive measures known as “Drain and Cover.”

Previous coverage: Sarasota health officials confirm malaria case; person treated and recovered

More: Mosquito season is here: What you need to know to stay safe as biting bugs invade

 DRAIN standing water to stop mosquitoes from multiplying.

  • Drain water from garbage cans, house gutters, buckets, pool covers, coolers, toys, flowerpots or any other containers where sprinkler or rainwater has collected.

  • Discard old tires, drums, bottles, cans, pots and pans, broken appliances and other items that aren't being used.

  • Empty and clean birdbaths and pets’ water bowls at least once or twice a week.

  • Protect boats and vehicles from rain with tarps that don’t accumulate water.

  • Keep swimming pools in good condition and appropriately chlorinated. Empty plastic swimming pools when not in use.

COVER skin with clothing or repellent.

  • Clothing: Wear shoes, socks, long pants and long sleeves. This type of protection may be necessary for people who must work in areas where mosquitoes are present.

  • Repellent: Apply mosquito repellent to bare skin and clothing.

  • Always use repellents according to the label. Repellents with DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, para-menthane-diol, 2-undecanone and IR3535 are effective.

  • Use mosquito netting to protect children younger than 2 months old.

COVER doors and windows with screens to keep mosquitoes out of your house.

  • Repair broken screening on windows, doors, porches and patios.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Health officials confirm second case of malaria in Sarasota, Manatee