Malaria outbreak kills two workers at Germany’s busiest airport

The Frankfurt Airport employees have died after contracting the disease from infected mosquitoes, apparently brought in from an endemic country by plane Two employees at Germany’s Frankfurt Airport have died in a rare malaria outbreak caused by infected mosquitoes believed to have been accidentally brought in by plane from a malaria-endemic country.

The outbreak began in early July, according to the Frankfurt Public Health Department.

The first worker died shortly afterward, with the malaria diagnosis confirmed posthumously.

Authorities traced the outbreak to the airport, where operator Fraport set traps and captured several mosquitoes, sending them for genetic analysis to determine their origin.

Staff were advised to seek medical attention if symptoms developed.

In mid-July, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), Germany’s federal disease-control agency, confirmed four cases among airport employees.

“The affected individuals fell ill between July 4 and 6, 2026,” the RKI wrote in its Epidemiological Bulletin.

“It is assumed that the infection was transmitted by an infected Anopheles mosquito imported by plane.” Read more First deaths in US measles crisis reported Citing medical sources, local media later reported that a total of six male workers, largely in jobs handling luggage, had been infected.

On Wednesday, Frankfurt health authorities announced that a second infected worker had died.

They insisted, however, that “for the population of Frankfurt, the risk is considered very, very low.” “The disease is not transmissible from person to person but is always transmitted by mosquitoes,” the authorities said in a statement to German media.

They did not confirm the total number of cases but said those affected were receiving treatment.

Frankfurt health chief Peter Tinnemann similarly sought to reassure residents, telling DPA news agency that “the risk to the Frankfurt population is insignificant.” Read more Russian doctors pioneer new Alzheimer’s treatment strategy Malaria is a potentially fatal disease caused by Plasmodium parasites spread by infected female Anopheles mosquitoes.

It typically causes fever, chills, headaches and fatigue, while severe cases can lead to organ failure, seizures and coma.

The most dangerous form, malaria tropica, can become life-threatening within 24 hours if undetected, though malaria is generally considered preventable and curable with early treatment.