A worker at Germany's busiest airport has died after contracting malaria, and five other airport employees are receiving medical treatment following what officials described as a rare outbreak linked to a mosquito that arrived on a plane.
Public health authorities said the cluster of infections is unusual because malaria is not endemic in Germany. Investigations are under way to determine how the vector — a malaria-carrying mosquito — reached the airport and infected the workers, and whether further screening of staff and passengers is required.
Cases of malaria acquired near airports in non-endemic countries are sometimes referred to as "airport malaria," when infected mosquitoes are transported on aircraft and bite people after arriving. Health experts say such incidents are uncommon but have been documented in a number of countries over the years, prompting special surveillance in and around international transport hubs.
Medical teams are treating the five colleagues with antimalarial therapy and monitoring them closely, officials said. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment are important in malaria care; the disease can be successfully treated with appropriate medication when caught in time. Authorities have not released further details about the individuals affected or the precise steps they are taking while investigations continue.