Two Frankfurt Airport Workers Die of Malaria in Rare Outbreak

Two workers at Frankfurt Airport in Germany have died from malaria following a rare outbreak that has infected six employees, according to local public health officials. Authorities believe malaria-carrying mosquitoes may have arrived at the airport aboard a plane, with the outbreak first detected in July.

The affected workers were employed in different roles and areas of the airport. Mosquito traps have now been installed, and captured insects are being examined to determine their species and possible origin. Officials are also analysing blood samples to establish whether the infections were caused by a single mosquito or multiple mosquitoes.

Authorities stressed that the risk to the wider population remains very low, as malaria is not transmitted directly between people and requires mosquito transmission. Germany rarely sees locally acquired malaria, which is usually associated with travellers returning from malaria-endemic regions. Health officials warned that delayed diagnosis can increase the risk of severe illness, particularly when there is no recent travel history.