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Bahamas not at risk for malaria out Break as us reports cases

By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas is not at risk of experiencing a malaria outbreak despite reports of cases in the United States, according to local infectious disease expert Dr Nikkiah Forbes.

Dr Forbes, the director of the National HIV/AIDS and Infectious Disease Programme at the Ministry of Health, spoke after the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention reported five malaria cases on Monday – four in Florida and one in Texas.

Dr Forbes said malaria is not endemic to The Bahamas or the United States, even though cases may appear if a person travelled where the disease regularly occurs.

“If you have the mosquito present or in warmer climates where people get more exposed to mosquito bites and there’s more mosquito activity, there is a possibility that it can be spread,” Dr Forbes said.

“In countries where it’s not endemic, that’s not a usual occurrence in the US or The Bahamas. But these things happen occasionally.”

Malaria is a life-threatening disease transmitted to people bitten by infected mosquitoes, according to the World Health Organisation. Symptoms include a high fever, muscle aches, fatigue, vomiting, and jaundice.

Asked how threatening malaria is to The Bahamas, Dr Forbes said: “For the general public here in The Bahamas, it is no risk at this time as it relates to those five cases in Florida and Texas, and we would have to continue to monitor the situation.”

Dr Forbes noted the last malaria outbreak in this country was in 2006 on Exuma. The US has not had local transmission of the disease since 2003.

Dr Forbes said the Environmental Health Department helps reduce the number of mosquitos.

“I will also say that our surveillance unit, at our Ministry of Health, we always keep an eye and try to be alert with these reports,” she said. “And so, yes, there has been messaging that has been sent out to clinicians and providers reminding them about the signs and symptoms of malaria.”

She also advised residents travelling to affected areas to see a healthcare provider first.

“Your healthcare provider can do screening and tell you what are the infectious disease risks,” she said. “And in that case, in places where malaria is endemic, we do recommend malaria prevention medication that people should take before they go to these places to reduce their chance of getting malaria.”