AlHijjah 27, 1434, Nov 1, 2013, SPA -- U.S. malaria cases are at their highest level in forty years, mostly from Americans bringing back the disease from their travels, according to a report by health officials on Thursday. Malaria is not a big problem in the United States-there were only 1,925 cases in 2011, including five deaths. But malaria cases were up 14 percent from the previous year, and the most since 1971, according to numbers released by health officials. Nearly all the cases were from Americans or foreign travelers bringing malaria into the country. Sixty percent were infected in Africa, where malaria is common. Malaria is a deadly tropical disease spread by mosquitoes. The disease is treatable when caught early. Travelers can protect themselves by taking malaria drugs before and during a trip.
