Two workers have died from bites by harmful mosquitoes that arrived aboard an aircraft at Frankfurt, Germany’s main airport. Germany’s health authorities say a total of six workers were infected with malaria in this rare incident.
Officials believe the infected mosquitoes entered Germany aboard an international flight. The six infected workers worked in different departments at the airport. None had traveled abroad recently. Because they had no travel history, the illness was initially slow to be recognized, and by the time it was, the condition of the two workers who died had deteriorated rapidly.
Special traps to catch mosquitoes have been set up at the airport immediately following the incident. Researchers are examining the mosquitoes to determine which country they came from. Authorities have also issued special precautionary guidance to protect workers and the general public.
Germany’s public health department said there is no reason for the general public to panic over this illness, since malaria does not spread from person to person — it spreads only through mosquito bites. As a result, the risk to ordinary city residents is very low.