CDC warning after first local US malaria cases in 20 years

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued an alert on Monday after five cases of malaria were confirmed, the first locally acquired cases of the disease in the United States in 20 years.

Four cases of the mosquito-borne illness were confirmed in Florida and one in Texas, the CDC said in its health alert, adding the cases in the two states did not seem to be related.

The last locally acquired malaria case in the United States was in 2003 when eight cases were identified in Palm Beach County, Florida.