FRANKFURT, GERMANY, 18 Sept. - (ANA) - A rare malaria outbreak has led to the death of three people. It is believed that the horrifying deaths came from a mosquito being trapped on a plane arriving at Frankfurt Airport. Two airport employees had lost their lives to the disease in August, but now a third has died.

 

The individual, who tragically passed away in hospital, did not work at the airport, nor visited any region where malaria is common.

 

On Tuesday, two further malaria cases were identified in the Schwanheim area, raising new concerns about the spread of the infection beyond the airport itself.

 

City officials said in a statement: "Both individuals had become infected with the malaria-causing parasite, even though they had not travelled to a malaria-endemic region and had not worked at the airport."

 

Germany's Robert Koch Institute, the agency responsible for disease control and public health, has connected an imported Anopheles mosquito transported by an aircraft as the most likely source of the outbreak.

 

It said that the first airport workers became ill after contracting malaria between July 4 and 6. Multiple people required emergency hospital treatment in July due to the rare outbreak.

 

Mosquito traps were deployed near Frankfurt Airport to contain the spread of the disease.

 

Fraport, the firm that operates Frankfurt Airport, previously said: "A total of six employees have contracted a form of malaria known as airport malaria in connection with their work at the airport.

 

"Sadly, we must confirm that one employee has died as a result of the infection."

 

The company added: "We have provided comprehensive information to all employees and encourage them to consult a doctor if they experience any symptoms."

 

The death of a second infected employee was later confirmed.

 

Airport malaria, or suitcase malaria, occurs when an infected mosquito becomes trapped aboard a plane or inside luggage, is then carried to a malaria-free area, and bites someone locally.

 

As it is rare for it to happen, the diagnosis of the disease is often delayed, leading to patients experiencing severe symptoms.

 

Common symptoms of malaria include high fever, sweating, chills, stomach pain, loss of appetite, headaches, and muscular aches.

 

There are treatments available. Patients who receive an early diagnosis are usually able to make a full recovery.

 

The latest fatality and the emergence of new cases among people with no connection to the airport or to international travel suggest the infected mosquito - or potentially others - may have spread further into the surrounding community than initially feared. -(ANA) -

 

AB/ANA/18 September 2026 - -