Malaria case in New Jersey resident raises concern of local transmission

A New Jersey resident with no history of international travel has been infected with malaria, state health officials said.

The New Jersey Department of Health said the person may have been infected by a mosquito in the state. If confirmed, it would be the first locally acquired case of malaria in New Jersey since 1991.

“I urge the public to continue taking steps to eliminate standing water around their properties, which will go a long way to reducing the risk of mosquito breeding,” Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette said in a statement.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said there are about 2,000 malaria cases reported in the U.S. each year, though most are linked to international travel, especially to tropical and subtropical countries.

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