New Jersey’s Department of Health and the Department of Environmental Protection are investigating a local malaria case in Morris County. The resident, who has no international travel history, is believed to have contracted the disease in New Jersey. This case would mark the first locally acquired malaria case in the state since 1991.
The NJDOH emphasizes that while Anopheles mosquitoes can transmit malaria in New Jersey, the risk of local infection remains low. Officials are working closely with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to identify potential sources of the infection. The CDC suggests that the resident may have been infected through a mosquito bite from an individual who had traveled with the disease.
To mitigate the risk of transmission, health officials recommend avoiding mosquito bites, ensuring prompt diagnosis and treatment for international travelers, and eliminating standing water around properties. New Jersey typically records about 100 travel-related malaria cases each year.
A similar case was reported in Washington state earlier this month. The woman, diagnosed on August 2, had not traveled internationally. Health officials are working with the CDC to confirm the case, which would be Washington’s first known locally acquired malaria case if confirmed. The county’s health officer notes that the risk of infection is low and most cases in the US occur through exposure in countries with ongoing transmission.
New Jersey residents are advised to take precautions to prevent mosquito bites and malaria transmission.
Source: https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/malaria/new-jersey-officials-probe-local-malaria-infection