Another Malaria case in Belgium

Close to Belgian airport Zaventem, a woman became seriously ill in early July after being infected with malaria. According to the Agency for Care and Health, this is the fourth case in three years in the vicinity of the airport. The infection was linked to a mosquito that was on a flight from Africa to Belgium.

"The frequency of the number of cases is a bit higher than normal," says Joris Moonens of the agency. "We see about one case a year, so it remains a rarity. It is too early to speak of a cautious trend then, but we are keeping an eye on it nonetheless."

Last year, an employee of the airport itself fell ill. The year before, a couple died of a so-called "import case" of malaria. Moonens stresses that additional information on recognising the symptoms of malaria is being distributed to general practitioners in the region.

Additional controls at the regional airports in Flanders (Deurne, Oostende) are not necessary, as no flights from Africa land there. Only in Zaventem, Melsbroek and Liège flights from Africa arrive.

© BELGA PHOTO