Two German Airport Workers Die After Malaria-Linked Mosquito Arrives on Plane
Two workers at Frankfurt Airport in Germany have died after contracting malaria, with health authorities suspecting that an infected mosquito arrived on an incoming aircraft.
The city’s health authority initially reported one death among six infected employees, but the number rose to two on Wednesday. The remaining four workers are receiving hospital treatment.
Germany’s Robert Koch Institute said an imported Anopheles mosquito, likely transported on a plane, is considered the most probable source of the infections. Malaria is rare in Germany, with the country’s last airport-linked outbreak reported in 2023.
Airport officials have installed mosquito traps to prevent further infections. Captured mosquitoes will be sent to the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Antwerp for genetic testing to determine their origin.
Malaria is a potentially serious disease transmitted by Anopheles mosquitoes. Symptoms can include fever, chills, headache and nausea. Early diagnosis and treatment can significantly improve recovery chances.
