Health officials have confirmed two new cases of malaria have been contracted in Southwest Florida as a statewide health advisory for the mosquito-borne illness remains in effect.
That brings the total to six cases since the first infection was reported in late May. All six cases were reported in Sarasota County, with the most recent two confirmed the week of June 25-July 1.
All of the locally contracted cases were Plasmodium vivax malaria. P. vivax is the most common type of malaria infection in humans. It is less fatal than other types but can still be life-threatening.
