Mosquitoes suspected from Africa arrive in Germany, kill two workers

Two workers at Frankfurt Airport in Germany have died of malaria following a rare outbreak in which six employees contracted the mosquito-borne disease.

German public health officials said the outbreak, first detected in July, is believed to have been caused by mosquitoes that arrived at the airport aboard an aircraft suspected to have come from Africa.

The affected workers were all men employed in different roles and working in separate areas of the airport.

A spokesperson for airport operator Fraport confirmed to the BBC that one employee had died from the infection, while Frankfurt public health officials later announced that the number of deaths had risen to two.

“We have provided comprehensive information to all employees and encourage them to consult a doctor if they experience any symptoms,” the Fraport spokesperson said.

Health authorities have installed mosquito traps around the airport, with captured insects being sent to laboratories for analysis to determine their species and possible origin.

Officials are also examining blood samples from the affected workers to establish whether the infections were caused by a single mosquito or multiple mosquitoes.

“For the population of Frankfurt, the risk is considered very, very low. The disease is not transmissible from person to person but is always transmitted by mosquitoes,” Frankfurt public health officials said in a letter to media organisations.

They added that laboratory tests aimed at identifying the source of the infections could take several weeks.

The Robert Koch Institute, Germany’s federal agency responsible for disease control and public health, previously reported that four airport employees became ill between July 4 and 6.

The institute said the mosquitoes responsible were believed to have been brought into Germany by plane.

Malaria cases in Germany are generally associated with people who have travelled to countries where the disease is widespread. Local transmission at an airport is considered extremely rare.

The institute warned that the absence of a travel history could delay diagnosis, potentially increasing the risk of severe illness.

Frankfurt Airport recorded its previous case of airport-acquired malaria in 2023.

Malaria is caused by parasites and transmitted through the bites of infected mosquitoes. The disease is mainly found in tropical regions, according to the World Health Organization.

Although malaria is both preventable and curable, it can cause symptoms ranging from mild illness to potentially life-threatening complications.

Authorities said the current risk to the wider population in Frankfurt remains very low, as malaria cannot be transmitted directly from one person to another.