Two German airport workers die of malaria after 'mosquito arrives on plane'

Two Frankfurt Airport workers have died of malaria after a rare outbreak caused six employees to contract the serious infection spread by mosquitoes. The mosquitoes may have arrived on a plane at Germany's busiest airport, leading to an outbreak first detected in July. The first death was reported by Fraport, the airport operator, while public health officials later confirmed two deaths among the affected individuals.

Traps have been installed at the airport to monitor mosquito species and origin. Fraport informed employees of the comprehensive information provided and advised seeking medical advice for any symptoms. The Frankfurt Public Health Department is investigating the outbreak, which involved six male airport workers in various roles and areas.

Blood samples are being analyzed to determine if all infections originated from a single mosquito or six different mosquitoes. Public health officials in Frankfurt stated that the risk to the public is very, very low, as malaria is not transmissible between people but is transmitted by mosquitoes. The Robert Koch Institute, a German federal agency, previously reported that the four infected workers fell ill between July 4 and 6, with the mosquitoes potentially introduced by plane.

The institute emphasized that malaria is rare in Germany and often affects long-haul travelers from endemic areas, with delayed diagnosis increasing the risk of severe disease. The last recorded case of airport malaria was also at Frankfurt Airport in 2023. Malaria, transmitted by certain mosquito species, is primarily found in tropical regions and is preventable and curable.