Why is malaria common in tropical regions but relatively rare in the US, despite having a lots of mosquitos?

Question

Why is malaria common in tropical regions but relatively rare in the US, despite having a lots of mosquitos?

In: Biology

Answer 1

The US actually used to have endemic malaria in huge regions until the 1950s—this takes the correct type of mosquito, as well as the parasite which lives in animal and human hosts. We successfully used pesticides, including DDT, to more or less eradicate it. We still have mosquito management districts and comprehensive surveillance programs in areas that are vulnerable to keep the host animals from ever getting reinfected and causing new epidemics. Fun fact, Cleveland Garfield’s wife is believed to have contracted malaria in the White House.