Sarasota and Manatee counties are issuing a mosquito-borne disease alert after reporting a case of malaria
SARASOTA COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — Health officials in Manatee and Sarasota counties issued a mosquito-borne disease alert after a case of malaria was reported.
According to the Florida Department of Health, Sarasota County and Manatee County have had one confirmed case of malaria. The patient had spent a lot of time outdoors and was being treated in a hospital.
The case was identified as P. vivax Health officials said it is a type of malaria that is not as deadly as other types. Malaria is not transmitted from person to person.
The Department of Health said you should take the following steps to protect yourself from mosquito-borne diseases:
To protect yourself from mosquito-borne diseases, take the following preventive measures:
- Use a mosquito repellent that contains DEET (10–30 percent), picaridin, lemon eucalyptus oil, paramenthanediol, 2-undecanone, or IR3535.
- Wear long sleeves and trousers.
- Check and fix screens on doors and windows to prevent mosquitoes from entering your home.
“To reduce the mosquito population around your home, please drain and cover the areas around your home,” health officials said.
To learn more about mosquito prevention, visit the Florida Department of Health website.
