Public Health Encourages Residents to Take Precautions to Avoid Mosquito-Borne Illnesses During Holiday Travel
As we enter the summer holidays with many folks planning to travel, Public Health leaders want to caution residents about malaria, a mosquito-borne illness.
“We have not seen domestically acquired cases of malaria in the United States for many years, but I want our residents to be aware, so they can protect themselves. The most important way to do that is taking steps to avoid mosquito bites, like using insect repellant,” said Dr. Raynard Washington, Mecklenburg County Public Health director. “This is especially important if you are traveling to Florida and Texas, where locally acquired cases of malaria have been reported.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Health Advisory to share information about locally acquired malaria cases in Texas and Florida in the past two months. There is no evidence at this time to suggest the cases in Florida and Texas are related. Locally acquired cases of mosquito-borne malaria were last documented in the United States in 2003. Despite the cases in Florida and Texas, almost all cases in the United States are imported and the risk of locally acquired malaria remains extremely low in our region and the country.
Malaria is a serious and potentially fatal disease transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito. Symptoms of malaria are non-specific and include fever, chills, headache, myalgias, and fatigue. Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea may also occur.
To protect yourself against malaria and other mosquito-borne illness:
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Take steps to prevent mosquito bites and control mosquitos at home.
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Before you travel, learn about the health risks and precautions for malaria and other diseases for your destination.
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If you are traveling internationally to an area where malaria occurs, talk to your healthcare provider about medicines to prevent you from getting malaria.
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If you have traveled to an area where malaria occurs and develop fever, chills, headache, body aches, and fatigue, seek medical care and tell your healthcare provider that you have traveled.
For more information:
Mosquito-Borne Disease Prevention