Five locally-acquired malaria cases have been detected in the US for the first time in 20 years, with four in Florida and one in Texas.
The big picture: Malaria is a mosquito-borne infection that is preventable and curable, primarily affecting tropical countries.
* In 2021, there were an estimated 247 million cases of malaria worldwide, with around 619,000 fatalities.
* A 2021 study in The Lancet predicts that climate change will increase the suitability for malaria and dengue, another mosquito-borne illness.
Symptoms and prevention: Mild symptoms of malaria include fever, chills, and headaches, while severe symptoms can involve difficulty breathing, fatigue, confusion, and seizures.
* Malaria can be prevented with medicine and measures to avoid mosquito bites carrying the virus.
US malaria cases and context: The CDC reports that about 2,000 cases of malaria are logged in the US each year.
* The last mosquito-borne malaria outbreak in the US occurred in 2008 with eight cases in Palm Beach County, Florida.
* The CDC states that all of the recent US cases have received treatment and are improving.
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