German airport worker dies of malaria after 'mosquito arrives on plane'
Five other airport workers are also receiving treatment following the rare outbreak at German's busiest airport.
A worker at Frankfurt Airport has succumbed to malaria, following an unusual outbreak that saw six employees contract the severe mosquito-borne illness.
German public health authorities suspect the mosquitoes were transported to Germany's busiest airport via an aircraft.
Fraport, the airport operator, confirmed that the other five individuals who contracted the infection are currently undergoing medical care.
To address the situation, traps have been deployed throughout the airport. Any captured mosquitoes will be sent to a laboratory for analysis to identify their species and point of origin.
A Fraport spokesperson informed the BBC, "Regrettably, we must confirm the death of one employee due to the infection." The spokesperson added, "We have disseminated extensive information to all staff and advise them to seek medical attention if they experience any symptoms."
Reports in July indicated that four workers were initially affected by the outbreak.
The Robert Koch Institute, a German federal agency for disease control and public health, previously stated that these four employees became ill between July 4th and 6th, and that the mosquitoes were believed to have arrived by plane.
The institute noted that malaria cases in Germany almost exclusively involve long-distance travelers infected in regions where the disease is prevalent, making transmission within a German airport a rare occurrence.
In its epidemiological bulletin, the institute highlighted, "The absence of a travel history can result in a delayed diagnosis. A delayed diagnosis heightens the risk of a severe progression of the disease."
The last instance of airport malaria also occurred at Frankfurt Airport in 2023.
The BBC has reached out to the Frankfurt Public Health Department, which is spearheading the investigation into this outbreak, for further comment.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), malaria is a disease transmitted to humans through the bites of certain mosquito species, predominantly found in tropical climates. The infection, caused by a parasite, is both preventable and curable and does not spread directly from person to person. However, its symptoms can range from mild to life-threatening.