OHIO — It's summer time and with that comes mosquitos. While most bites are annoying because they're itchy, getting bit by the wrong one can cause more damage than that.

That's especially true if the mosquito is carrying malaria. 

What You Need To Know

  •   Five Malaria cases originating in the US were reported to the CDC in the past couple of weeks  

  •   CDC said these were the latest cases in the first time in two decades  

  •   Medical experts say if you're infected by Malaria by mosquitos in the US the symptoms are usually mild  

  •   Putting on mosquito repellent spray and wearing long sleeves and pants are ways to prevent yourself from getting bit from mosquitos 

Four people in Florida and one person in Texas recently reported contracting malaria in the U.S. It's a disease spread to humans by mosquitos that normally is contracted in other countries. But for the first time in two decades, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said these latest cases originated here.

"What makes these cases in Florida and the case in Texas that was reported unique is that it does not seem like these cases were acquired elsewhere," said Dr. Kevin Steiner, OSU assistant professor of infectious diseases.

While some side effects of the mosquitos carrying ,alaria out of the country can be deadly, the side effects from the ones here are usually mild.

"People generally will experience fevers, headache, some chills, muscle aches, sort of just feeling unwell," Steiner said. "Occasionally, it can progress to more severe disease with nausea or vomiting."

He said most symptoms clear up with medication, and there are preventative measures you can take to protect yourself from contracting the disease.  

"If you're out of the house in the evening, if you could wear long sleeves, long pants, try to keep your skin covered. A good idea would be to use mosquito repellent," he said.

As of right now, there aren't any reported cases in Ohiom and Steiner doesn't forsee there being a high risk or spread here or across the country. 

"If there is evidence, such as in Florida and Texas, of local spread, the public health authorities will first notify providers to be aware of the potential for new cases and the importance of thinking about Malaria as a diagnosis, and then also go through some of these efforts to control mosquitoes in the area," he said. 

Steiner said mosquitoes carrying malaria can arrive in the U.S. by ending up on a plane that flies here from overseas. He also said that mosquitoes in the U.S. can contract the disease by biting a person who contracted the disease elsewhere.