Malaria in USA may be different this time
Malaria parasites spread by multiplying in the human body and then move between people through mosquito bites. In the USA we primarily detect malaria when people feel ill and go to a doctor. People near the outbreak in Florida may avoid seeking health care due to cost or felony arrest. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, in Florida 300,000 citizens lost Medicaid coverage this year. The parasite could be spreading without detection in a huge population
Malaria parasites have killed emperors, and kings over the centuries. We are fortunate to have modern treatment, but it's not without cost. A May 2023 study estimated mean cost per patient hospitalized for malaria treatment was $27,642, and for non-hospitalized patients it was $1,177 (among patients with private insurance). (Park J, . 2023, PMID: 36718673)
Prevention efforts often operate unnoticed until they fail, and many health departments are understaffed due to poor pay and harassment. Thanks to health departments in the USA you will not be exposed to smallpox, and probably won't be exposed to malaria. Concerns about medical debt and arrest could allow malaria to spread and put us all at risk.
The ARS Technica article provides a high level summary of the situation in Sarasota, FL.