Florida has seen a rise in malaria rates in recent weeks. Malaria is a mosquito-borne disease that can cause symptoms like extreme sickness, fever, chills, nausea, body aches and headache. Malaria is spread by mosquito bites, and not from person-to-person contact.
Watson Clinic encourages everyone to protect themselves by remaining vigilant against mosquito bites. Here are some steps you can take to avoid interactions with mosquitos:
- Spray yourself with mosquito repellent when necessary.
- Cover your arms and legs with protective clothing.
- Mosquitos breed by laying eggs in or near standing water. Be sure you drain any areas of standing water (indoors or outdoors). Even a bottle cap filled with water can attract breeding activity within a week. Other household or yard items that can retain standing water include buckets, toys, child pools and cover, car or boat covers, roof gutters, coolers, pet dishes, birdbaths, trash cans, recycling bins, and tires.
- Use air conditioning and keep screens on all the windows in your house. Repair any torn screens.
- Keep all doors and windows closed.
Individuals displaying the symptoms of a malaria should seek immediate medical attention.
For more information and to schedule an appointment, call your Watson Clinic Family Medicine or Internal Medicine provider at 863-680-7190. They may refer you to our Infectious Diseases department for follow-up care.
Source: Florida Department of Health