Two workers at Frankfurt Airport in Germany have died from malaria after a rare outbreak infected six employees, public health officials have confirmed.
The outbreak, first detected in July, is believed to have been caused by mosquitoes that arrived at the airport aboard an aircraft.
Airport operator Fraport confirmed that one employee had died from the infection, while Frankfurt public health officials later said a second affected worker had also died.
The six infected workers are all men and worked in different roles and areas of the airport. Authorities are investigating whether the infections were caused by a single mosquito or several different mosquitoes.
Mosquito traps have been installed across the airport, with captured insects being sent to laboratories for analysis to determine their species and possible origin. Officials said laboratory results could take several weeks.
“For the population of Frankfurt, the risk is considered very, very low,” Frankfurt public health officials said in a letter to media outlets. They stressed that malaria is not transmitted directly from person to person but is spread through the bites of infected mosquitoes.
The Robert Koch Institute, Germany’s federal public health agency, previously reported that four airport employees became ill between July 4 and 6. It said the mosquitoes responsible were believed to have been transported into Germany by plane.
According to the institute, malaria cases in Germany occur almost exclusively among people who have travelled to malaria-endemic regions. Airport-transmitted malaria is considered extremely rare.
Authorities have urged airport workers to seek medical attention if they develop symptoms. The Fraport spokesperson said employees had been provided with information about the outbreak and encouraged to consult doctors if they felt unwell.
The latest outbreak is not the first recorded case of airport malaria at Frankfurt Airport. The Robert Koch Institute said a similar case was reported there in 2023.
Malaria is a potentially life-threatening disease caused by parasites and transmitted through the bites of infected mosquitoes. It is most common in tropical regions but is preventable and curable when diagnosed and treated promptly.
Source: 3news
