"Didn’t Even Travel Abroad"…Two Frankfurt Airport Employees Die From Malaria Transmitted by Mosquitoes Arriving on Planes

Six Frankfurt Airport Employees Infected, Two Dead
Authorities: "Mosquitoes Believed to Have Arrived via Aircraft"

Six employees at Frankfurt Airport in Germany were infected after being bitten by mosquitoes believed to have entered from malaria-endemic regions via aircraft, and two of them have died.

Mosquito. Pixabay

On August 30, German media outlets including Die Zeit reported that health authorities in Frankfurt recently confirmed the deaths of two Frankfurt Airport employees due to malaria infection.

The first fatality occurred in early July. At that time, the cause of death was not identified, and it was only after the patient's death that malaria infection was discovered.

The second death followed in August. Frankfurt health authorities believe that mosquitoes living in malaria-endemic regions were transported to Germany via aircraft and caused the infection.

According to Frankfurt health authorities, a total of six airport employees contracted malaria in the course of their work at the airport. They were infected with the tropical malaria type, known to be the most dangerous form of malaria. Four employees, apart from the two who died, received treatment and have now all recovered.

The Robert Koch Institute (RKI), Germany’s disease control agency, announced that as of mid-July, a cluster of malaria cases among four Frankfurt Airport employees had been confirmed. At the time, RKI explained, "It is presumed that the infection was caused by mosquitoes with spotted wings that entered via aircraft." Symptoms appeared in these four employees between July 4 and July 6.

Fraport, the airport’s operator, stated that mosquito traps were installed at the airport and that mosquitoes have in fact been collected and are currently being analyzed in a laboratory.

Peter Tinnemann, head of Frankfurt’s health office, noted that it is highly likely the mosquitoes responsible for the infections are already dead. He explained that there is no risk of person-to-person transmission, and the threat to Frankfurt residents is negligible.

Malaria is an acute febrile disease transmitted by mosquitoes infected with malaria parasites. According to the German Federal Foreign Office, if high-risk individuals become infected, they can fall into a coma or even die. The risk of infection can be reduced by preventing mosquito bites and, when necessary, taking preventive medications.

The RKI noted that "airport malaria" is very rare, as it requires an infected mosquito to enter via aircraft or luggage and then bite local residents. Cases of airport malaria had also been reported at Frankfurt Airport in 2023.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.