Two employees at Frankfurt Airport in Germany have died following an outbreak of malaria among six airport workers. Health officials believe the cause is malaria-carrying mosquitoes that arrived via airplanes from abroad.
Frankfurt city health officials, together with Fraport, the operator of Frankfurt Airport, confirmed the deaths of two airport workers from malaria infection. These cases are part of a group of six male employees from various departments who fell ill despite none having a travel history to malaria-risk countries.
German authorities reported that this outbreak was first detected in early July, with the first four employees showing symptoms between 4–6 July. The Robert Koch Institute (RKI), Germany's disease control agency, concluded that Anopheles mosquitoes likely arrived on international flights and circulated within the airport, causing the spread of infection.
The first death occurred in July, at a time when the cause was not yet clear. The second employee died later, while the remaining four have shown improvement and are recovering.
Malaria typically spreads in tropical countries, and cases in Germany usually involve travelers returning from abroad. "Airport malaria" occurs when infected mosquitoes hitch a ride on aircraft or luggage and bite people on the plane, at the airport, or nearby areas. This phenomenon is very rare; the last known case at Frankfurt Airport occurred in 2023.
The RKI noted a disadvantage of such cases is "delayed diagnosis" because patients lack travel history, leading doctors or patients themselves to overlook symptoms, which can result in severe, life-threatening illness.
Peter Tinnemann, head of the Frankfurt public health office, reassured the public by stating, "The risk to the general population in Frankfurt is very low because malaria spreads only through mosquito bites, not person-to-person transmission, and the mosquitoes responsible have likely died."
Currently, the airport has installed mosquito traps throughout the area and sent captured mosquitoes to the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Antwerp, Belgium, for genetic analysis to identify the species and true origin. Results are expected in the coming weeks. Additionally, Fraport has issued a notice urging all employees to monitor their health and seek medical attention immediately if flu-like symptoms develop.