Two Frankfurt Airport Workers Die from Malaria Following Rare Outbreak

Two workers at Frankfurt Airport have died from malaria after a rare outbreak resulted in six employees contracting the disease, which is spread by mosquitoes. German public health officials believe the mosquitoes arrived at Germany's busiest airport on a plane, with the outbreak first detected in July. A spokesperson for airport operator Fraport confirmed that one employee had died due to the infection, and public health officials later reported that two of the affected individuals had died. In response, traps have been installed at the airport, and captured mosquitoes will be analyzed in a laboratory to determine their species and origin. Fraport's spokesperson stated, "We have provided comprehensive information to all employees and encourage them to consult a doctor if they experience any symptoms." The outbreak is currently being investigated by the Frankfurt Public Health Department. Reports indicate that six male airport workers, employed in different roles and areas of the airport, were infected, and officials are analyzing blood samples to ascertain if the infections were caused by one mosquito or multiple mosquitoes. On Wednesday, public health officials in Frankfurt communicated to media outlets that two of the infected individuals had died. They noted that the risk to the general population in Frankfurt is considered very low, as malaria is not transmissible from person to person but is always transmitted by mosquitoes. Laboratory tests to identify the source of the infections are expected to take several weeks. Initially, in July, it was reported that four workers had been infected. The Robert Koch Institute, a German federal agency for disease control and public health, stated that malaria in Germany typically affects long-haul travelers who were infected in malaria-endemic areas, and that cases of malaria transmitted within a German airport are rare. The institute added that the lack of a travel history can delay diagnosis, increasing the risk of severe disease progression. The last case of airport malaria was reported in 2023 at Frankfurt Airport. Malaria is primarily found in tropical countries and is caused by a parasite transmitted through mosquito bites. The infection is preventable and curable but can have mild to life-threatening symptoms.