2 airport workers die of malaria from mosquito on plane in Germany

Two airport workers in Frankfurt, Germany have tragically died from malaria contracted after being bitten by a mosquito on a plane, according to the city's health authority. Initially, it was reported that only one employee had succumbed to the illness, with six workers becoming infected. The cause of the outbreak was traced back to an Anopheles mosquito, which is believed to have been transported onto the aircraft from a malaria-endemic region.

The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) confirmed that the four remaining infected employees are currently being treated in hospital. Airport officials have installed traps in an effort to capture mosquitoes that will subsequently be analyzed in a laboratory to determine their species and origin. Comprehensive information has been provided to all employees, and the airport urges them to consult a physician if they experience any symptoms associated with the disease.

This marks the first known instance of airport-based malaria in Germany since 2023. The rarity of the condition often leads to delays in diagnosis, which can exacerbate the severity of symptoms. Malaria is most commonly contracted by long-haul travelers visiting malaria-endemic areas, and outbreaks within German airports are exceptionally uncommon. Public health officials in Frankfurt have reassured the public that the risk to the general population is considered very low.

The disease itself is not contagious between individuals, but rather transmitted through mosquito bites. Symptoms of malaria include nausea, headache, intense waves of fever and chills. Malaria, caused by parasites transmitted via Anopheles mosquitoes, continues to claim hundreds of thousands of lives annually, predominantly in sub-Saharan Africa. With early detection and appropriate treatment, patients generally recover fully.