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Third Death Reported in Rare 'Airport Malaria' Outbreak Tied to Frankfurt Flights
ReThird Death Reported in Rare 'Airport Malaria' Outbreak Tied to Frankfurt Flights
A third person has died from malaria in Germany after an infected mosquito was reportedly carried aboard a flight to Frankfurt, in a rare phenomenon known as 'airport malaria.' Six airport workers also contracted the disease earlier this year.
A third person has died from malaria in Germany following a rare outbreak of the tropical disease linked to flights arriving at Frankfurt Airport, according to reports. The death marks the latest development in a cluster of infections that has puzzled health officials because none of those affected had traveled to a region where malaria is endemic.
The most recent victim was a resident of Schwanheim, a district just north of the airport, who died recently. In August, an airport worker also died from the disease. Neither person had visited a malaria-endemic area, and the worker had not been employed at the airport itself, city officials said.
Another German resident also fell ill with malaria. Officials confirmed that both individuals were infected with Plasmodium falciparum, the parasite responsible for the most severe form of the disease. Malaria can only be contracted through the bite of an infected mosquito and cannot be transmitted from person to person.
The cases are being described as an instance of «airport malaria,» a rare phenomenon that occurs when an infected mosquito becomes trapped aboard an aircraft or inside luggage, is transported to a malaria-free country, and then bites someone locally. It remains unclear where the flights involved had departed from.
Earlier this year, Germany's Robert Koch Institute, the national agency for disease control and public health, reported that airport workers became ill after contracting malaria between July 4 and July 6. In total, six employees contracted the disease, according to Fraport, the company that operates Frankfurt Airport.
In response to the outbreak, airport officials set traps around the property in July in an effort to contain the spread of the disease. Fraport said it has provided comprehensive information to all employees and is encouraging them to consult a doctor if they experience any symptoms.
Several people were rushed to a hospital amid the outbreak, which has drawn attention because malaria is not normally transmitted within Germany. The disease is typically found in tropical and subtropical regions, and local transmission in Europe is exceedingly rare.
The cluster has raised questions about how infected mosquitoes are surviving air travel and reaching people in and around one of Europe's busiest aviation hubs. Health authorities have not released further details about the condition of those who were hospitalized or the exact timing of the third death.
The Robert Koch Institute and Fraport have both been involved in the response, with the airport operator emphasizing that employee health and awareness remain a priority. The cases remain under investigation as officials work to determine how the infections occurred and whether additional measures are needed.
