Health officials want the public to take the risk seriously as more cases of West Nile virus and malaria are reported.
By Associated Press
Published August 20, 2003
MIAMI - Malaria. West Nile virus. Eastern equine encephalitis. The three mosquito-borne, potentially fatal diseases have health officials working to ensure that the public takes the risk seriously without provoking panic.
In the past week, there have been five new confirmed cases of West Nile in the state and one of malaria. The new West Nile cases were reported in Broward, Escambia, Miami-Dade and Okaloosa counties; the new case of malaria is in Palm Beach County.
Palm Beach and Miami-Dade are under medical alerts for all mosquito-borne diseases.
For the year, 12 Floridians have been diagnosed with West Nile and two with Eastern equine encephalitis. Three Palm Beach County residents have been diagnosed with malaria.
"The level of human cases has been blessedly low compared to other states for West Nile and Eastern (equine)," said Lillian Stark, virology administrator for the Tampa laboratory of the Florida Department of Health. "The malaria cases are unusual."
West Nile, which causes brain swelling, is a rare strain of encephalitis. Mosquitoes spread the disease by feeding on the blood of infected birds. Eastern equine and St. Louis encephalitis, different forms of the disease, are relatively common in Florida. They can't be spread from person to person.
All three encephalitis strains produce the same symptoms: headache, fever, fatigue, dizziness, light sensitivity and confusion. Only about one of every 200 people infected shows symptoms. Babies and the elderly are most at risk.
Eastern equine encephalitis is the most often fatal of the three, with St. Louis encephalitis the least.
About 178 Florida horses have been diagnosed with Eastern equine encephalitis this year, up from 25 last year. State health officials say the spike does not necessarily translate into more human cases.
The disease may, in fact, be waning for the year. Health officials last week recorded a smaller number of new horse cases than in previous weeks, said Lindsay Hodges, spokeswoman for the Florida Department of Health.
West Nile has had a bigger impact nationally than in Florida this year. Through Monday, 536 cases had been reported to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Eleven were fatal.
Last year, West Nile killed two of the 28 Floridians diagnosed with the virus.
Malaria is the least common mosquito-borne illness in Florida. Most of the 1,200 cases diagnosed in the United States each year involve people who have traveled to infected areas, such as Asia, Africa and Central and South America. Tim O'Connor, a Palm Beach County Health Department spokesman, said none of the three Lake Worth men confirmed to have the disease had traveled outside the country. The county's third malaria victim, a 32-year-old man, was treated and released from JFK Medical Center Sunday with mild nausea. The first two victims, diagnosed last month, also recovered.
Malaria spreads after a certain type of mosquito, the female Anopheline, bites an infected person. The mosquito passes it on to the next person it bites.
Basic measures against mosquitoes
Eliminate stagnant water where they might breed.
Avoid going outdoors during dusk and dawn, when they are actively feeding.
If you must be outside at those times, wear shoes, socks, long pants and long-sleeved shirts, and use repellent containing DEET.
