Two employees at Frankfurt Airport in Germany have died after contracting malaria, with health authorities linking the infections to a mosquito believed to have arrived on an aircraft.
The Frankfurt health authority confirmed the deaths on Wednesday, after airport officials initially reported that one worker had died and six others had been infected.
According to Germany’s Robert Koch Institute, an imported Anopheles mosquito carried into the country on a plane was the likely source of the malaria infections.
Four other affected employees are currently receiving treatment in hospital, an airport spokesman said.
The RKI noted that airport-related malaria outbreaks are extremely uncommon in Germany. The country’s last known outbreak of this nature occurred in 2023.
Health experts warned that the rarity of such cases could make diagnosis more difficult or delayed, potentially increasing the risk of severe illness.
As part of measures to prevent further infections, mosquito traps have been installed around the airport.
The Institute of Tropical Medicine in Antwerp, Belgium, is also expected to examine malaria parasites found in blood samples from the affected workers.
Malaria is caused by parasites transmitted through the bites of infected Anopheles mosquitoes. Common symptoms include fever and chills, headaches and nausea.
Although malaria remains a major cause of death globally, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, effective treatments are available. Patients who receive appropriate treatment early generally make a full recovery.
