Enlarge / Below a magnification of 1,125x, this photomicrograph of a blood specimen revealed the presence of intraerythrocytic Plasmodium falciparum ring-form trophozoites. Notice the erythrocyte within the heart contained 4 ring-staged trophozoites and that each one rings exhibited a single chromatin dot. (credit score: CDC)
Catching malaria within the US is extraordinarily uncommon, however when it occurs, the mosquito-borne parasite can masquerade as one other parasite that is frequently discovered within the nation, resulting in a misdiagnosis that has foiled docs around the globe for years. Such was the case this yr in Maryland, when the state noticed its first domestically acquired malaria case in over 40 years, in response to a report this week.
The misdiagnosis led the affected person to a weeks-long therapy for the improper an infection and held up public well being responses to pinpoint and thwart additional transmission. So far, the supply of the affected person’s an infection stays a thriller.
As international journey and local weather warming increase malaria’s vary, consciousness of the diagnostic pitfall and higher testing will likely be more and more wanted, the report’s authors recommend. The report was revealed Thursday within the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
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