British Airways flight attendant dies of malaria after long-haul flight

A British Airways flight attendant has died after contracting malaria in Africa.

The woman became ill after working on a long-haul flight from Heathrow to Accra, Ghana.

It is thought she was staying at a hotel in the city with other BA colleagues when she became ill.

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Medical advice and anti-malarial tablet are provided for BA crews flying to the West African country.

The Metro reports that a major investigation is now underway to find out exactly what happened.

In a statement, British Airways told the Daily Mail: "We were deeply saddened to hear of the death of our colleague. The safety of our colleagues and customers is our top priority.

"Cabin crew are given top strength repellent and fully briefed every time they fly into a malarial area in order to give them the best protection.

"Medication is available to those who wish to use it, either before they fly or when they are at their destination.

"We check our hotels and transportation to minimise the chance of contact with mosquitos."

The fatality comes six years after another cabin crew member died from malaria after working on a flight to and from the same destination.

Malaria is contracted when a bite from a female mosquito carrying the malaria parasite is released into the bloodstream.

Over half a million people die from malaria every year in Africa.

According to the Mirror, the majority of fatalities in the UK caused by malaria are from the plasmodium falciparum species of parasite, which is predominant in sub-Saharan Africa.

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