Two airport workers in Frankfurt, Germany, have died from malaria, a mosquito-borne illness, after six employees contracted the infection in early July. Health officials believe the outbreak occurred when mosquitoes were transported to Germany on an airplane.

Four of the six affected workers have since recovered, according to Fraport, the airport's operator. Details regarding the exact timing of the deaths have not been released. Malaria is typically found in tropical and subtropical regions, making its appearance in Germany rare. This phenomenon is referred to as "airport malaria," which occurs when mosquitoes carrying the disease are brought into non-endemic areas via air travel.

The specific origin of the mosquito or mosquitoes responsible for the outbreak is still under investigation. Mosquito traps have been deployed at Frankfurt Airport, and captured specimens will be analyzed by the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Belgium to determine their species and origin. Airport officials stated they are working closely with relevant authorities to coordinate any necessary measures.

Symptoms in the infected individuals began to appear in early July, with the sixth case reported in mid-August. Malaria is caused by parasites transmitted through the bite of an infected Anopheles mosquito. These parasites infect and destroy red blood cells and can affect the liver. While the disease is primarily spread by mosquitoes, it can also be transmitted through blood transfusions, pregnancy, and the sharing of needles.

Mild symptoms of malaria include fever, chills, headache, fatigue, and gastrointestinal issues. In severe cases, approximately one to two percent of patients can develop complications such as seizures, confusion, and multi-organ failure, which can be fatal.

This is not the first time malaria has been detected at Frankfurt Airport. Three employees were diagnosed in 2022, and two suffered severe cases in 2019. Germany officially eliminated malaria in 1964. The U.S. also eliminated locally transmitted malaria in 1951, though about 2,000 cases are reported annually, mostly in individuals who have traveled to malaria-endemic regions. In 2023, 10 cases of locally acquired malaria were reported in the U.S. from mosquitoes biting individuals returning from abroad.

Worldwide, malaria affects an estimated 300 million people each year, resulting in approximately 600,000 deaths.