JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas  –   Mosquitos aren’t just pesky insects that bite, they can spread some serious diseases such as Zika virus, West Nile virus, Chikungunya virus, dengue, and malaria.

Within the last two months, five cases of malaria spread by mosquitos have been reported in the United States. Four cases were in southwest Florida and one here in southern Texas. The five cases are the first in 20 years to be detected locally in the United States.

Malaria is a mosquito-borne disease caused by a parasite. People with malaria often experience symptoms such as fever, chills, and flu-like illness. Left untreated, they may develop severe, potentially fatal, complications.

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