Germany on alert over “airport malaria,” with 8 cases and two deaths in Frankfurt

A series of malaria cases in Frankfurt has raised the alarm among German health authorities, although the disease had long been considered a thing of the past in Western Europe.

Since July, eight cases have been confirmed in the city, and two of those infected have died. The two latest cases were detected in Schwanheim, an area near Frankfurt Airport.

A possible link between the infections and the airport is being investigated, as several of those infected worked there. One theory under consideration is that infected mosquitoes may have arrived on planes from countries where malaria is widespread. If they manage to survive and bite other people, they can spread the parasite responsible for the disease. This type of transmission is known as “airport malaria.”

Malaria is an infectious disease spread mainly through the bites of infected mosquitoes. The initial symptoms may resemble those of the flu or a gastrointestinal infection.

High fever, chills, headaches and body aches, along with gastrointestinal problems, are among the most common symptoms. Malaria tropica, the most severe form of the disease, can be fatal if it is not diagnosed and treated in time.