A new report out of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is shedding a little light on a major malaria outbreak in the U.S. in 2023. What led to the rare outbreak, and how can the information gleaned from the report help to prevent future infestations of malaria? Read on for all of the details.

Details of the 2023 U.S. Malaria Outbreak

Scientists have been busy studying a 2023 malaria outbreak across four U.S. states. What was most unusual about this outbreak was that the infections were not documented in individuals who had recently traveled abroad. Instead, the infections were spread by local mosquitoes within the U.S.

Researchers at the CDC recently issued a report on this outbreak, detailing that it was a "perfect storm" that set the stage for four outbreaks from mosquitoes local to the U.S. These infections were a first in the U.S. in 20 years. Additionally, the research proves that the infections came from mosquitoes in four states with four different genetic lineages. This means that the four outbreaks were not connected.

The 2023 malaria outbreak sickened 10 people across Texas, Florida, Maryland, and Arkansas. According to the CDC, all of the infected individuals were treated and fully recovered without lasting complications. However, the CDC deemed the outbreaks important enough to study what may have caused them and whether the U.S. should be concerned about a malaria outbreak on a national level.

Malaria infections are caused by parasites that infect a certain kind of mosquito. While the 10 cases in the U.S. did not have fatal outcomes, the infections can become deadly if they are not diagnosed quickly and treated properly.

The findings from the CDC were recently published in a report in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). The researchers determined that a record amount of international travel, soaring temperatures, and a higher proliferation of mosquitoes all worked together to create a perfect storm to lay the groundwork for the outbreaks in 2023.

The year 2023 ended up being the fifth hottest year on record in the U.S. It was also the warmest year on record on a global scale. It has been known for some time that malaria is spreading more readily at the hands of an increasingly warming planet. This is raising the potential of endemic transmission of malaria within U.S. borders, as mosquitoes naturally thrive in warmer climates.

Understanding the Risks of Malaria

In the past, most cases of malaria in the U.S. had been imported from other countries. For example, an American would travel to a country where the diseases were endemic, unknowingly bringing them back to the U.S. Malaria remains the most common in the subtropical and tropical corners of the globe. Both cases and fatalities are the highest in Africa.

Epidemiologists are now warning that the types of transmission are becoming more native, spreading to people who have no international travel history. The good news is that malaria is curable if caught early. Additionally, transmission numbers in the U.S. still remain exceptionally low. However, public health experts are warning that now is the time to shore up the resources to ensure that the U.S. will be able to handle any future outbreaks. Some third-world countries are already seeing drug-resistant forms of malaria, making it more difficult to treat effectively.

How can you reduce your risk of contracting malaria? The best line of protection is using mosquito repellents that contain Picaridin or DEET. These will lower the chances that you get bitten by mosquitoes, thus reducing the threat of the infection.

Medical experts also caution about getting complacent now that summer is in the rearview mirror and temperatures are beginning to drop. It is important to remember that mosquitoes can survive temperatures all the way down to about the 50-degree level. Some of the hardier species can even live through brief dips into the 40s.

It is also a good idea to educate yourself about the first symptoms of malaria. As malaria is an infection, one of the signs that something is amiss is a fever. This fever will feel similar to the common flu. Other symptoms include muscle aches, chills, and headaches. Severe cases of malaria can trigger organ failure.

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