Malaria Invading USA Again

Wait, what? Malaria has been eradicated in these parts for decades. Well, not really. In a way, it is not entirely surprising for infections to show up. Folks go to countries where it still exists, get bitten by an infected mosquito, then exhibit symptoms later. What is disconcerting is when malaria is locally acquired.

On this big continent, conditions have to be right for it to spread. Someone can be a carrier, get bitten by a mosquito, then that noxious critter bites someone else and gives the gift of malaria. It is not always fatal, and is a disease involving four different parasites.

Plasmodium vivax schizonts, CDC / Dr. Mae Melvin

It is apparent that Plasmodium vivax has been designed. This touches on an area where creationists have to be ready to explain themselves. Yes, everything was created, and it was very good at the end of creation week. When Adam sinned, things began to fall apart. Death and disease showed up. Like other things like viruses and bacteria, Plasmodium was probably beneficial and symbiotic before the curse.

Summer 2023, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported several cases of locally acquired malaria in Florida, Texas, and Maryland, meaning that patients were infected within the US—the first such cases in over two decades (CDC 2023). The significance of the cases and how individuals and public health officials should respond to the situation is still unknown. The CDC is collaborating with state health departments on an investigation of seven locally acquired cases of Plasmodium vivax malaria in Sarasota County, Florida, and one case in Cameron County, Texas, and Maryland near Washington DC. There is no evidence to suggest that the cases are related. All patients were promptly treated at area hospitals and are recovering (CDC 2023).

To read the rest, see "The Return of Malaria to the USA."