Malaria eradication in the United States
American Journal of Public Health and the Nations Health, vol. 40, no. 11, 1950, pp. 1405–1411
Abstract
Malaria was endemic to the southeastern United States for centuries, causing significant morbidity and mortality. In 1945, a cooperative program between the Public Health Service and southeastern states was initiated to eradicate malaria using indoor residual DDT sprays. As a result, the incidence of malaria sharply declined, with only 4,241 cases reported in 1949 compared to 62,763 cases in 1945. However, the reliability of these numbers is questionable, as many reported cases were not confirmed by laboratory tests. An analysis of malaria morbidity and mortality statistics, diagnostic and survey blood examinations, and case appraisals suggests that endemic malaria has been reduced to the vanishing point in the United States but that more data are needed to confirm its eradication. – AI-generated abstract
