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Malaria Information and Resources

Malaria Alert

The Florida Department of Health and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have issued an alert for malaria cases in Florida.  Seven cases of domestically-acquired malaria have been reported in Sarasota County.  These are not cases that are imported through travelers returning from malaria-endemic locations, but local cases, originating in Florida.  Additionally, mosquitoes that have been trapped in Sarasota County have been confirmed to carry malaria.  

Malaria is a mosquito-borne disease caused by a parasite.  The mosquitoes that transmit malaria, the Anopheles genus, have been in Florida since 1990.  People that are infected with the malaria parasite will experience chills, fever and flu-like illness.  If not treated, severe complications can develop, possibly resulting in death.  There currently is no vaccine for preventing malaria.    

The mosquitoes that can transmit malarial parasites are active primarily from dusk to dawn.  To lower your exposure risk for mosquitoes (including those that transmit other diseases such as West Nile virus and Dengue virus), avoid areas with standing water that are breeding grounds for mosquitoes.  Remove any standing water around your residence.  If you’re outdoors, wear clothes to cover your skin as much as possible.  Also, use an effective insect repellent on exposed skin.  

For more information on malaria, please see the following websites:

SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Information and Resources

Status:  COVID-19 continues to circulate in our communities and is expected to continue with variability in case rates and transmission levels.  Continue to follow CDC guidelines for managing exposures and symptoms.  Resources are available below.

• Student Resource - FAU Student Health Services
• Employee Resource - FAU Human Resources Webpage
• COVID-19 Resource for Florida - Florida Department of Health
• Centers for Disease Control COVID-19 Resource - CDC COVID-19
• FAU Health and Safety Plan - FAU COVID-19 Health and Safety Plan
• Making Quarantine and Isolation Decisions - Quick Guide to CDC COVID-19 Exposure and Symptoms Protocols Updated August 12, 2022

Other COVID-19 Quicklinks:

Testing locator:  https://floridahealthcovid19.gov/testing-sites/ 

Vaccine locator: https://floridahealthcovid19.gov/vaccines/vaccine-locator/ 

Public Health Resources

FAU Resources

• FAU Public Health Manual

External Resources

• MRSA: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus or Staph Infection.
• Mosquitoes - Fight the Bite
• Florida Department of Health - Palm Beach County
• FAU Mosquito Alert Notice
• DOH Boil Water Q&A's
• Swimming Pools
• www.cdc.gov/handhygiene

Infectious Diseases

• www.mayoclinic.com/health/germs/ID00002
• https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/infectious-disease.htm

FAU Tobacco-Free Campus

• Tobacco-Free Campus Policy
• Report a violation
• Florida Department of Health Quit Now Resources

Pandemic Influenza Information

• Pandemic Influenza Plan
• Questions and Answers

Ebola Information

• www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/ebola-fever-virus-infection
• www.floridahealth.gov/diseases-and-conditions/ebola/index.html
• www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA_FS-3756.pdf (Cleaning and Decon Guidelines)

Zika Information

• http://www.cdc.gov/zika/
• https://www.floridahealth.gov/programs-and-services/womens-health/pregnancy/zika-virus.html
• http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/zika/en/
• http://www.floridahealth.gov/videos/drain-and-cover.html