Plasmodium vivax

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported on June 26, 2023, that five cases of locally transmitted malaria had been identified – four in Florida and one in Texas – since May 2023.
• These are the first cases of locally acquired mosquito-borne malaria in the U.S. since 2003.

1. What is malaria and how did these people become infected?

• Malaria is a serious and sometimes life-threatening disease caused by the bite of a female mosquito from the genus Anopheles, the vector that transmits malaria.
• The most common symptoms are fever, chills, headaches, muscle aches and fatigue.
• These symptoms typically occur from 10 to 15 days after people are infected with the parasite.

2. Why might these cases be surfacing now?

• For one, climate change is causing a shift in weather patterns, some of which can worsen malaria conditions.
• A higher average surface temperature from global warming could lead to higher mosquito migration in areas that were previously uninhabitable by Anopheles mosquitoes.
• Given these changes in local conditions, more cases could occur in populations that were previously “immunologically naïve” to malaria.
• This drives up the number of drug-resistant cases, the severity of the illness and the possibility of larger outbreaks.

3. How can people help prevent malaria transmission?

• Precautions also include what’s known as “drain and cover” – in other words, draining standing water to prevent mosquitoes from multiplying and using screens to prevent mosquitoes from entering through doors and windows.
• Health departments also note that it’s important to drain or discard containers that can collect rainwater, such as flower pots, old tires and buckets.

4. What are the available malaria treatments?

• There are several medicines used to prevent and treat malaria.
• The choice of medication typically depends on the type of malaria, whether a malaria parasite is resistant to a medicine, the weight or age of the person infected with malaria and whether the person is pregnant.
• These kill malaria parasites by damaging their proteins and are usually the most effective treatment against malaria.

5. Are vaccines against malaria available?

• Therefore, in October 2021, the World Health Organization began recommending the widespread use of a malaria vaccine known as RTS,S/ASOI for children who live in moderate- to high-risk areas.
• Trials show that the vaccine can significantly reduce malaria, including severe malaria, among young children.
• While new malaria vaccines will be a major boost for curbing malaria worldwide, it will be critical for health departments to continue emphasizing other preventive strategies, especially in newly affected areas like Florida and Texas.

• The Procleix Plasmodium Assay, designed for NAT, aims to improve blood safety by detecting Plasmodium, a mosquito-borne parasite that causes malaria and is responsible for more than 240 million infections and 620,000 deaths annually[1].
• Blood banks and collection centers could decide that deferrals could be unnecessary if donors were tested and found negative using the Procleix Plasmodium Assay.
• "We are excited to announce the CE mark certification of an additional Procleix assay, demonstrating Grifols' continued commitment to transfusion safety," said Antonio Martnez, President, Grifols Diagnostic Business Unit.
• "Certification of the Procleix Plasmodium Assay enhances the ability of blood banks in Europe to provide safer blood transfusions."

• Results of a clinical study conducted by researchers in Manaus, Brazil, show that the Gazelle Malaria test outperformed Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs) and was nearly as accurate as more expensive and time-consuming expert microscopy in detecting Plasmodium vivax (P. vivax) malaria.
• Because P. vivax is not adequately detected by current tests, the infection is frequently missed, and patients dont receive essential treatment, said Dr. Marcus Lacerda, Infectious Disease Researcher at FMT-HVD and lead investigator for the study.
• P. vivax is the second most prevalent malaria species infecting humans and is widespread among many countries seeking to eliminate malaria.
• Researchers at FMT-HVD noted that the Gazelle Malaria Tests use of hemozoin, a highly specific biomarker present in all species of malaria, shows promise for detecting low parasitemia P. vivax infections.

• GENEVA and SEATTLE, April 23, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- PATH and Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) announce a 5-year, jointly-led initiative, VivAccess, to support countries in the elimination of Plasmodium vivax (P. vivax) malaria.
• VivAccess is set to accelerate their access to those in need and in doing so protect patients from relapses and support countries to move towards malaria elimination."
• In the process, the initiative will strengthen national and local capacities in alignment with the WHO malaria strategic agenda .
• "Relapsing malaria due to Plasmodium vivax is the most geographically widespread malaria, with well over 2 billion people living in areas of risk for infection, said Dr. Larry Slutsker , Director of the PATH Center for Malaria Control and Elimination.