Two employees at Frankfurt Airport have died after contracting malaria, according to airport operator Fraport and local public health authorities.
A total of six male staff members working in different roles and locations across Germany‘s busiest aviation hub were infected in the outbreak, where the four surviving workers were taken to hospital and are currently recovering.
Health officials believe the infections were caused by an Anopheles mosquito that entered the country aboard an aircraft.
This rare phenomenon, known as “airport malaria,” occurs when infected mosquitoes travel on planes or inside cargo and bite individuals at, or, near the destination airfield.
The German government’s disease control agency, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), reported that the first four cases were identified in mid-July after employees fell ill between 4 July and 6 July.
According to the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), testing has confirmed the outbreak was caused by Plasmodium falciparum, the most dangerous and severe species of the malaria parasite.
The ongoing investigation is being coordinated by the Frankfurt Public Health Department, with blood samples being examined to figure out if the workers were bitten by one or multiple insects.
To identify the exact species and geographical origin, mosquitoes captured in traps set up around the airport grounds are undergoing genetic testing at the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Antwerp.
Peter Tinnemann, head of the Frankfurt Health Department, told Germany’s DPA news agency that the insect responsible is likely already dead, emphasising that the danger to the local population remains negligible.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), malaria is caused by parasites transmitted solely through mosquito bites and cannot be passed directly between humans.
Fraport has advised all airport staff to consult a medical professional immediately if they show potential symptoms.
The foreign ministry has noted in its health advisories that, while early treatment is highly effective, severe cases can cause complications such as comas or death if neglected.
The RKI has emphasised that because domestic patients lack a history of recent foreign travel, healthcare providers often delay testing for malaria, which can increase the risk of life-threatening complications.
Locally contracted airport cases remain exceptionally rare in western Europe, with the RKI noting that Frankfurt Airport’s last documented incident occurred in 2023.
Fraport has been contacted for further comment.