Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is facing pressure amid a growing number of malaria cases in the state, after reports emerged that two public-health roles related to combating the spread of diseases have been left vacant for months.
Two more cases of the mosquito-borne virus were detected in Sarasota County, to the south of Tampa, between June 25 and July 1, according to the latest Florida Health Department virus-monitoring report. It brings the total number of cases of the disease that were contracted inside the U.S. this year to six in Florida. The county, along with neighboring Manatee County and Miami-Dade, are now under alerts.
The discovery of the malaria infections marks the first time in two decades that the virus has been locally acquired in the U.S., as opposed to being linked to international travel.
Republican presidential candidate and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks during the Moms for Liberty Joyful Warriors national summit at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown on June 30, 2023. Back in his home state, there has been a rising number of malaria cases. Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images
It comes after NBC News reported that Florida’s Bureau of Epidemiology, which is tasked with tracking and preventing communicable diseases, had been without a chief since last month. An administrator position for its surveillance program has been vacant since March.
The LinkedIn pages for Clayton Weiss and Thomas Troelstrup, the respective officials, show the former departed in June for the Florida Department of Corrections, while the latter has been working for a private company since March. Replacements for the roles have not been publicly announced by the Bureau of Epidemiology.
Dr. Aileen Marty, a professor in infectious disease at Florida International University, told NBC the roles were
Ron DeSantis Under Pressure as Florida Malaria Cases Spread
