Germany: Third malaria death linked to Frankfurt Airport

Three people have died from malaria near Frankfurt Airport in Germany, local authorities announced on Thursday. This marks the third fatality in a cluster of cases linked to the airport. Two airport workers succumbed to the disease in July and August. Malaria, transmitted by mosquitoes and responsible for hundreds of thousands of deaths annually, is rare in Germany.

Schwanheim district, adjacent to the airport, reported two new malaria cases on Tuesday. Both individuals, residing in separate homes, had not traveled to or worked at a malaria-endemic area. Frankfurt health officials expressed condolences to the victims' families and noted that the latest infections were linked to a mosquito that entered Germany via an aircraft.

The mosquito's flight range is between 5 and 10 kilometers. The infected mosquito likely reached the area about 5 kilometers from the airport. While malaria typically affects travelers, these cases are directly attributed to Frankfurt Airport. Airport malaria occurs when an infected mosquito is carried on an aircraft or in luggage and infects someone on the plane, at the airport, or nearby.

Such cases are rare, with the last documented instance at Frankfurt Airport in 2023. Mosquito traps have been set up at the airport, and captured mosquitoes are being genetically analyzed to determine their species and origin. The RKI, Germany's public health institute, emphasizes that such occurrences are extremely uncommon. Airport staff are advised to seek medical attention if they develop symptoms.