Two ground workers at Frankfurt Airport have tragically died from malaria after being infected by mosquitoes believed to have been imported on flights from malaria-endemic regions, according to the airport operator Fraport and local health authorities.
The first fatality occurred in early July, with the cause of death established only after the patient passed away, while the second death took place in August.
In total, six airport workers contracted malaria tropica, the most dangerous form of the disease, during their shifts. The other four infected individuals are currently recovering well after receiving appropriate treatment.
In mid-July, Germany’s Robert Koch Institute (RKI) initially confirmed an outbreak of four malaria cases among airport employees.
“The individuals affected fell ill between July 4 and 6, 2026,” the RKI noted in its Epidemiological Bulletin, adding that the infection was likely transmitted by an infected Anopheles mosquito imported by aircraft.
The Anopheles mosquito, also known as the nail or marsh mosquito, is the primary vector for the disease.
