Two workers at Frankfurt Airport in Germany have died from malaria in a rare outbreak believed to be linked to infected mosquitoes that may have been transported into the country on an aircraft.
Six airport employees have contracted malaria tropica, the most severe form of the disease, since July. Four have recovered following treatment, while two have died.
The cases are unusual because none of the affected workers is known to have recently travelled to a country where malaria is endemic.
An infected Anopheles mosquito is believed to have arrived at Frankfurt Airport aboard an aircraft from a malaria-endemic region. Such cases are known as “airport malaria”, where infected mosquitoes are inadvertently transported by air and later bite people at or around an airport.
The mosquito responsible has not yet been identified, and investigators have not established exactly how the insect entered Germany.
Mosquito traps have been placed around Frankfurt Airport, with captured insects being examined to determine their species and possible origin. Genetic testing is also being used to establish whether the malaria parasites found in the affected workers are linked.
The first death occurred in July, while the second airport worker died in August. The four other infected workers have recovered following treatment.
The outbreak is unusual for Germany, where most malaria cases are associated with people who have travelled to countries where the disease is widespread.
The absence of a travel history can make malaria more difficult to diagnose in countries where the disease is uncommon, potentially delaying treatment.
Malaria is caused by parasites transmitted through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. It is widespread across much of sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and parts of Latin America.
Symptoms can include fever, chills, headache, muscle aches and weakness. Severe malaria can develop rapidly and can be fatal without prompt treatment.
The Frankfurt cases highlight how international air travel can occasionally transport disease-carrying mosquitoes into regions where malaria transmission does not normally occur.
Despite the unusual outbreak, the risk to the wider public remains very low. There is no indication that malaria is spreading through the general population in Frankfurt.
The incident also highlights the continuing global burden of malaria, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, where the disease causes the overwhelming majority of malaria deaths worldwide.
Authorities continue to monitor mosquito activity around Frankfurt Airport while investigating how the infections occurred.
The last documented case of airport malaria in Germany was reported at Frankfurt Airport in 2023.
