Two Frankfurt Airport workers have died from malaria following an outbreak linked to mosquitoes arriving on a plane.
Frankfurt Airport, Germany's busiest airport, is investigating an outbreak that led to six employees contracting malaria, with two fatalities. Public health officials believe the mosquitoes arrived on a plane, triggering the outbreak first detected in July. Traps have been installed at the airport, and captured mosquitoes are being analyzed to determine their species and origin.
The Robert Koch Institute noted that malaria in Germany typically affects long-haul travelers infected abroad, and that airport-transmitted malaria is rare. The last recorded case of airport malaria in Germany was in 2023 at Frankfurt Airport. Laboratory tests to determine the source of the infections are expected to take several weeks.
Why it matters
The presence of infected mosquitoes at the airport risks further infections among staff and travelers.
This section reflects Dumpling editorial interpretation and is provided for context only.
What to watch
Watch whether traps at Frankfurt Airport yield data on mosquito species and origin.
This section reflects Dumpling editorial interpretation and is provided for context only.