Malaria in the United States – Past and Present

Malaria is caused by protozoa that are transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected female anopheline mosquito. The World Health Organization reports that malaria causes approximately 1 million deaths per year. Many of us do not remember that this life-threatening disease was once endemic in the United States. This article reviews the history of malaria and its eradication in the U.S. and discusses methods for laboratory diagnosis.