Frankfurt Reports Third Malaria Death in Airport-Linked Outbreak

A third person has died from malaria in the Frankfurt area in an extremely rare outbreak believed to be linked to air traffic, according to local German officials. The latest victim was one of two infected residents of the Schwanheim district near Frankfurt Airport.

The infected residents had contracted Plasmodium falciparum, the parasite responsible for a severe form of malaria, despite having no recent travel history to malaria-endemic regions and no employment at the airport. Earlier in August, officials reported that two airport workers had died from malaria, while four others had recovered.

Authorities are investigating how the infections occurred. Mosquitoes collected from traps at Frankfurt Airport in July and August have been sent to a laboratory in Antwerp for testing, with results still pending. Officials have also indicated that airlines could be ordered to disinfect aircraft if necessary.

Pic courtesy: google/ images are subject to copyright