You may have heard that there have been a handful of recent Malaria cases (five) within the United States (Florida and Texas). This is news-worthy because Malaria has been eradicated in the US and, as such, we rarely see any cases that were acquired locally (as opposed to being acquired while traveling outside the US). These are the first cases of reported locally-acquired Malaria since 2003, highlighting just how rare this is!
So should you be concerned? Short answer is no!
The number of cases is still incredibly low and there are no recommendations by the CDC to seek out prophylaxis. The best thing you can do is educate yourself and try to avoid mosquito bites. This can serve as a motivator to renew your commitment to wearing your repellent, covering your skin when possible, and sleeping in screened or well-enclosed areas.
Drop any questions I didn’t answer below!