Airport worker dies of malaria after mosquito arrives on plane

A worker at Frankfurt Airport tragically passed away from malaria following a rare outbreak that resulted in six employees contracting the serious infection. German public health officials suspect the mosquitoes responsible for spreading the disease arrived on a plane at the airport, considered Germany's busiest. Despite five other employees currently receiving treatment, one individual sadly lost their life due to the infection.

The Fraport spokesperson confirmed this, urging all employees to seek medical attention if they experience any symptoms. It was reported earlier this year that the outbreak involved four infected workers between July 4th and 6th. The Robert Koch Institute, a German federal agency, stated that malaria in Germany typically affects long-haul travelers who contract the disease while in endemic areas.

They noted that airport-transmitted malaria is uncommon. The last instance of airport malaria occurred in 2023 at Frankfurt Airport. While the World Health Organization explains that malaria is primarily found in tropical countries, the infection is preventable and curable, caused by a parasite and not transmitted from person to person.