FRANKFURT AIRPORT WORKER DIES AFTER RARE MALARIA OUTBREAK
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By; Sunmola Ganiyat
A worker at Frankfurt Airport, Germany, has died from malaria following a rare outbreak that has infected six employees at the facility.
German health authorities believe the mosquitoes responsible for the infections may have entered the country aboard an aircraft.
The airport operator, Fraport, confirmed the death and disclosed that the other five affected workers are undergoing treatment.
As part of efforts to trace the source of the outbreak, mosquito traps have been installed around the airport. The insects caught will be examined in laboratories to establish their species and origin.
Fraport said it had informed employees about the situation and urged anyone experiencing possible symptoms to seek medical attention promptly.
The Robert Koch Institute had earlier reported that four employees developed malaria between July 4 and 6, with investigations suggesting the mosquitoes were transported into the airport by plane.
The institute explained that malaria cases in Germany are usually associated with travellers returning from malaria-endemic regions, making local transmission at an airport highly unusual.
It also warned that people without a history of travelling to affected regions could face delayed diagnosis, which may increase the risk of severe illness.
Frankfurt Airport previously recorded a locally acquired malaria case in 2023.
Malaria is caused by a parasite and transmitted through the bite of infected mosquitoes. Although the disease is preventable and treatable, it can cause serious or life-threatening illness.
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