Cases Of Malaria At U.S. Hospitals Higher Than Expected
Experts believe immigrants and travelers, who have lost their childhood immunity by living in America for some time, are returning to their home countries not expecting to need protection from the disease. Then they come back to the U.S. infected.
The New York Times:
Fatal Malaria In The U.S. More Common Than Previously Known
Serious and fatal bouts of malaria in the United States are a greater problem than has been previously reported, according to a new study. Most appear to be in immigrants who have made summer or Christmas visits to their home countries without taking precautions against infection. (McNeil, 4/24)
NPR:
Malaria Wiped Out In U.S. But Still Plagues U.S. Hospitals
Malaria transmission in the United States was eliminated in the early 1950s through the use of insecticides, drainage ditches and the incredible power of window screens. But the mosquito-borne disease has staged a comeback in American hospitals as travelers return from parts of the world where malaria runs rampant. In the early 1970s there only a couple hundred malaria cases reported in the entire U.S. but that number has steadily increased in recent years. (Beaubien, 4/24)
In other news —
The Baltimore Sun:
Hopkins Gets $10 Million Federal Grant To Continue Efforts To Control, End Malaria
Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute will continue its efforts to control and eliminate malaria in Africa with a seven-year, $10 million federal grant. The funding from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases follows a previous seven-year grants that was used by researchers from Hopkins in Zambia, Zimbabwe, Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Africa. The new funds will allow expansion in central Africa. (Cohn, 4/24)
