Airport malaria: two deaths in Frankfurt, but the risk is low in Italia

Six employees at Frankfurt Airport have contracted malaria, probably due to an infected mosquito that arrived on board an aeroplane, and two of the infected workers have died. This has been confirmed by Fraport, the company that operates the German airport, and by the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), the German government agency responsible for disease control and prevention. The first death occurred in early July, but the cause of death was only established and reported at a later date. The second death occurred in August.

“Italia was immediately alerted by Germany via the EWRS (Early Warning and Response System),” the Ministry of Health promptly announced, “and, as a result, the USMAF – the Italian Maritime, Aviation and Border Health Offices – were alerted.” The Ministry continues to monitor the situation and assesses the risk to the Italian population as ‘low’.”

The incident dates back to mid-July, when Fraport announced that four employees had contracted malaria; this figure later rose to six, with one fatality. All the infected employees are currently receiving medical treatment.

“The mosquito is probably already dead,” says Peter Tinnemann, director of the Frankfurt Health Authority. “There is no likelihood of the disease spreading from person to person. The risk to the population of Frankfurt is negligible.”

According to the available information, the infections are thought to have been caused by infected mosquitoes imported from malaria-risk areas, possibly in the hold of an aeroplane. Mosquito traps have been set up at the airport and a number of mosquitoes have been caught. The insects will now be analysed in the laboratory to check for the presence of the parasite responsible for malaria.