Essential Malaria in New Jersey? A Weird Comeback Case You Didn’t Expect

File this one under “diseases you expect in the tropics, not the Garden State.” Then again, it’s New Jersey. They had the mysteriousflying dronesanddumped spaghettisaga: Anything can happen there! ;) The New Jersey Department of Vitality just announced they’re investigating a locally acquired malaria case in Morris County. Translation: the person who got sick hadn’t traveled outside the U. S. in years. If confirmed, it would be the first homegrown malaria case in NJ since 1998. So what gives? Malaria is usually a passport stamp away. But certain mosquito species herecantransmit it if they pick up the parasite. All it takes is one unlucky bite, and suddenly your backyard BBQ gets a lot less charming. Before you panic-Google “moving to Antarctica,” the risk is still considered very low. But public well-being folks are treating it seriously. Why? Because once malaria pops up locally, they may benefit from to make sure it doesn’t quietly spread. Malaria is caused byPlasmodiumparasites that hitch a ride in mosquito saliva. Once inside you, they invade red blood cells. The result? *High fevers and chills that come in cycles. *Low energy and sweats (the kind that leave you peeling your T-shirt off at 2am). *Headache, muscle aches, nausea. *In severe cases: organ failure, anemia, seizures, coma, and death. It’s not your average mosquito bite. *Cover up:Loose, long sleeves when skeeters are out. *Repel the biters:EPA-registered repellents are your friend. *Water patrol:Dump standing water (flowerpots, buckets, birdbaths = mosquito Airbnbs). *Screens matter:Keep windows/doors tight so the biters stay outside. Some of you who are frequent Causes or Cures Podcast listeners will know that I just hadDr. Michael Santos on my podcastdiscussing how the differences betweengene-drive mosquitoesand genetically-modified ones. He talked about how they would be utilized to fight diseases like malaria, how they were starting field trials soon, and the controversies behind this technology. The big issue is that with gene-drive mosquitoes, the altered trait gets passed to the offspring, thereby changing generations of mosquitoes. That does not happen with the traditionally genetically-modified mosquitoes. When I shared a podcast clip on Facebook-oh boy! Man, people had a lot to say about it! Most of it wasn’t good, but people asked good questions: How will this change the ecosystem? What if something unexpected happens-how do you turn it off? You can watchthe clipon my Youtube channel, and then I’ll ask you the same question, “Would YOU release these mosquitoes into the wild? â€� You can access and listen to that podcast here:Gene-Drive Mosquitoes are Coming! A Quirky Tidbit: Malaria was widespread in the U. S. until the 1950s. It wasn’t just a “tropical disease” — swampy areas of the South, the Midwest, and even the Northeast had it. Civil War soldiers died from malaria in droves. So in a weird way, this isn’t malaria making a debut…it’s an unwelcome comeback cameo. A blast from the past.(You’re welcome for the dinner or first-date trivia.) The Bottom line: You don’t would gain from to start sleeping under a net in New Jersey, but maybe show the mosquitoes in your yard a little less hospitality. Other WTF News Bits: Texas Woman Dies of Brain-Eating Amoeba from a Sinus Rinse! You can contact Dr. Eeks atbloomingwellness. com. Follow Eeks onInstagramhere. Join theEeksonHealth Facebook ChannelOrFacebookhere. OrX. OnYoutube. OrTikTok. SUBSCRIBE to her monthlynewsletter here! (Now featuring interviews with top experts on holistic health you care about!)