Two cases of airport-associated falciparum malaria in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, October 2019

Abstract

Two cases of presumably airport-acquired falciparum malaria were diagnosed in Frankfurt in October 2019. They were associated with occupation at the airport, and <i>Plasmodium falciparum</i> parasites from their blood showed genetically identical microsatellite and allele patterns. Both had severe malaria. It took more than a week before the diagnosis was made. If symptoms are indicative and there is a plausible exposure, malaria should be considered even if patients have not travelled to an endemic area.