Malaria Cases in US Hit 40-Year High
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iStock Photo/Thinkstock(WASHINGTON) — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s latest data found that malaria cases reported in the U.S. have hit a 40-year high.
A report from the CDC showed approximately 2,000 cases of malaria diagnosed and treated in the U.S. in 2011. That figure is the largest number of reported cases since 1971. Nearly all of those cases, the CDC says, were acquired overseas.
Of the malaria cases reported in America in 2011, five patients died from the disease.
The CDC offered some tips to help Americans protect themselves and their families from malaria while travelling:
– Visit your doctor 4-6 weeks before you travel.
– Buy your malaria pills before your trip.
– Take your malaria pills exactly as prescribed.
-Avoid mosquito bites by sleeping under an insecticide treated bed net, wearing long sleeves and long pants, and using repellent.
– If you become sick with malaria symptoms (including fever and chills) during or after your travel, see a doctor right away.
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