In Florida's local malaria outbreak, forgotten bite led to surprise hospitalization

Mosquito control teams in Sarasota County, Florida have been spraying larvicides, which target immature mosquitoes, in areas where standing water could serve as breeding grounds for Anopheles, the type of mosquito that can spread malaria. (Sarasota County Mosquito Management Services)

At first, Hannah Heath thought she probably just had a bad case of food poisoning. The Sarasota, Fla. resident was vomiting and had chills and a fever. But four days later, she was still really sick.

"Finally I called my husband and I was like, 'You have to take me to the ER, I think I'm dehydrated; I think I need an IV,'" said Heath, 39.