German airport worker dies of malaria after 'mosquito arrives on plane'

A Frankfurt Airport worker has died of malaria after mosquitoes arrived on a plane, sparking an outbreak that infected six employees. German national health officials said the insects are believed to have reached the country’s busiest airport aboard an aircraft. Fraport, the airport’s operator, confirmed that the remaining five infected individuals are receiving medical care. A spokesperson told the BBC, “Sadly, we must confirm that 1 worker has died as a result of the infection,” and added, “We have provided extensive information to all employees and encourage them to see a doctor if they experience any symptoms.” Traps have been set up at the airport to capture mosquitoes for laboratory analysis of their species and origin. Earlier reports in July noted that the outbreak initially involved four infected workers. The Robert Koch Institute, Germany’s federal agency for disease control and public health, previously stated that those four employees fell ill between 4 July and 6 July and that the mosquitoes were brought in by plane. The institute noted that malaria in Germany almost exclusively affects long‑haul travelers who were infected in malaria‑endemic regions, and that transmission within a German airport is rare. It warned, “The lack of a travel history can lead to a delayed diagnosis. A delayed diagnosis increases the risk of a severe course of the diseases,” in its epidemiological bulletin. The institute also said the previous case of airport malaria occurred in 2023, also at Frankfurt Airport. The BBC has contacted the Frankfurt Public Health Department, which is leading the investigation, for comment. Malaria is spread by certain mosquito species that bite humans and is primarily found in tropical countries, according to the World Health Organization. The infection, which is preventable and curable, is caused by a parasite and does not pass from person to person, though symptoms can range from mild to life‑threatening.