Frankfurt Airport Reports Six Malaria Cases, One Employee Dies, Five Under Treatment

Berlin: Six cases of malaria have been reported among employees at Germany’s Frankfurt Airport, with one employee dying and five others currently receiving treatment. Airport operator Fraport has confirmed the death of one employee and the infection of five others.

According to Euronews, German health authorities suspect that a malaria-infected mosquito may have arrived at Frankfurt Airport on a flight from a malaria-endemic region in July and subsequently infected employees through mosquito bites. Fraport said special traps have been installed at the airport to capture mosquitoes, which are being examined in laboratories to determine their species and possible origin.

According to Germany’s Robert Koch Institute, such cases are extremely rare. As the affected employees had no recent history of travel abroad, authorities believe the infections may represent a case of “airport malaria,” in which an infected mosquito is transported by aircraft to an area where malaria is not normally prevalent.

Fraport has advised airport employees to seek medical attention immediately if they develop symptoms associated with malaria and to inform doctors that they work at Frankfurt Airport. Authorities are continuing to monitor the situation and investigate the possible source of the infections.