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2 airport workers die of malaria from mosquito on plane in Germany, 4 others sickened
CBS News • • general
Key Points:
- Two workers at Frankfurt airport in Germany died after contracting malaria, likely from an Anopheles mosquito brought in by a plane, with six employees infected in total.
- Four infected workers are hospitalized and receiving treatment, while traps have been set up at the airport to capture and analyze mosquitoes to determine their species and origin.
- Malaria transmission within German airports is rare, with most cases linked to travelers infected in endemic regions; the risk to the general Frankfurt population is considered very low.
- The Robert Koch Institute noted that delayed diagnosis of airport-based malaria can lead to severe symptoms, and laboratory tests to confirm the infection source are expected in several weeks.
- Malaria, caused by parasites spread by Anopheles mosquitoes, can be treated effectively if caught early, though it remains a major cause of death globally, especially in sub-Saharan Africa.
