Two workers at Frankfurt Airport, Germany's busiest air travel hub, have died from malaria in a rare outbreak that sickened a total of six employees. The outbreak was first detected in July.
Officials suspect an infected Anopheles mosquito arrived on an airplane, leading to the cluster of cases. Four other airport employees who contracted malaria have since recovered. The identities of the deceased workers have not been released.
The Robert Koch Institute, Germany's national public health institute, reported in mid-July that four airport employees fell ill with malaria between July 4 and July 6. The institute indicated that the illness was likely spread by an Anopheles mosquito, also known as a Marsh mosquito, aboard a plane.
Malaria cases in Germany typically involve long-distance travelers who were infected in malaria-endemic regions. The phenomenon of "airport malaria," where infected mosquitoes cause local transmission without any of the affected individuals having traveled from a malaria zone, is rare. Frankfurt Airport recorded its last case of airport malaria in 2023.
Fraport, the operator of Frankfurt Airport, has stated that comprehensive information has been provided to all employees, encouraging them to seek medical consultation if symptoms arise. The company is cooperating with ongoing investigations.
To identify the origin of the mosquito, traps have been set up throughout the airport. Any mosquitoes captured will be sent to a laboratory for analysis to determine their species and origin.
Malaria symptoms can range from mild to life-threatening. Mild symptoms include fever, chills, and headaches. Severe cases can progress to fatigue, confusion, and difficulty breathing, according to the World Health Organization. The disease is most commonly spread by the bites of infected Anopheles mosquitoes, particularly in tropical countries, though human-to-human transmission is also possible in some instances.