Two Frankfurt Airport workers die after rare malaria outbreak

Two employees at Frankfurt Airport have died after contracting malaria in an outbreak believed to have been caused by infected mosquitoes arriving on an aircraft.

Six workers at Germany’s busiest airport have been diagnosed with the disease. The first death occurred in July and the second in August, according to Frankfurt health authorities.

None of those affected had recently travelled to a country where malaria is commonly found, leading officials to investigate what is known as “airport malaria”.

This can occur when an infected Anopheles mosquito survives a flight from a malaria-endemic region, potentially inside an aircraft or luggage, and bites someone after arriving at its destination. Officials have stressed that malaria is not transmitted directly between people.

Mosquito traps have been installed at the airport, with captured insects being sent for laboratory and genetic analysis to help identify their species and possible origin.

Airport malaria is extremely rare, but delayed diagnosis can increase the risk of serious complications because symptoms such as fever, headaches, chills and nausea may not initially be linked to the disease in people who have not travelled abroad.

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