Frankfurt Airport worker dies of malaria during rare outbreak

A worker at Frankfurt Airport in Germany has died of malaria during a rare outbreak of the infection that affected six employees. Five other infected workers are undergoing treatment, a spokesperson for airport operator Fraport said.

According to German health authorities, mosquitoes that may have spread the infection likely arrived at Germany’s busiest airport by plane. This was reported by BBC News.

Traps installed at the airport

Mosquito traps have been installed at Frankfurt Airport. The captured insects are to be examined in a laboratory to determine their species and origin.

Fraport said it had provided employees with detailed information and urged them to seek medical attention if any symptoms appear. In July, four infected airport workers were reported.

More current news is available on the UA.News Telegram channel Telegram.

A rare case for Germany

The Robert Koch Institute previously reported that four employees fell ill between July 4 and 6, and that the mosquitoes had been brought in by plane. The institute noted that in Germany, malaria is almost always detected in people who have returned from long trips to regions where the disease is widespread.

Malaria transmission within a German airport is rare. The absence of a travel history may delay diagnosis, increasing the risk of a severe course of the disease. A previous case of so-called airport malaria was also recorded at Frankfurt Airport in 2023.

According to the World Health Organization, malaria is caused by a parasite and transmitted by certain mosquito species through bites. The infection is not transmitted from person to person, can be mild or life-threatening, and can be prevented and treated.