Two Frankfurt Airport Workers Die from Malaria After Mosquito Bites

At Frankfurt Airport, two employees have succumbed to malaria, having contracted the disease from mosquitoes likely transported via planes from areas where malaria is prevalent. The fatalities occurred in early July and August, with the initial case identified posthumously. A total of six workers were diagnosed with malaria tropica, the most severe variant of the illness, while the remaining four are recovering satisfactorily after receiving treatment. The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) confirmed the outbreak in mid-July, reporting four cases among airport staff. The RKI indicated that the workers fell ill between July 4 and 6, 2026, and suggested that an infected Anopheles mosquito, also known as the nail or marsh mosquito, was responsible for the transmission. Fraport, the airport operator, along with city health authorities, revealed the deaths on Wednesday.