Frankfurt airport malaria cases likely from West Africa

Eight malaria cases around Frankfurt airport this summer, including three deaths, were likely caused by parasites originating in west Africa, Frankfurt city authorities said Wednesday.

Peter Tinnemann, head of the German city's public health department, said genetic analysis suggested the malaria pathogens were probably introduced to Frankfurt by infected mosquitoes.

The Institute of Tropical Medicine in Antwerp, Belgium, carried out genomic analysis of the eight cases. It found that the pathogens came from three different mosquitoes and caused separate clusters of cases in July, August and September.

Six of the people who became ill had spent time at the airport, while the other two lived nearby. Authorities said none had spent time in an area where malaria is endemic.

Frankfurt authorities said the type of malaria found in the clusters is completely curable if detected and treated in time. Medical and hospital staff have been asked to be especially alert to possible symptoms.