Two employees at Frankfurt Airport have died after contracting malaria tropica, the most severe form of malaria, in what German health authorities believe is a rare case of "airport malaria" caused by infected mosquitoes transported on aircraft from malaria-endemic regions.

According to Germany's DPA news agency, citing Frankfurt's public health authority, six airport employees have been diagnosed with malaria tropica. Four infected workers have recovered and are reported to be in stable condition.

Health officials believe the infections were likely transmitted by Anopheles mosquitoes that arrived in Germany aboard aircraft from malaria-endemic countries rather than through local transmission. Frankfurt Health Department Director Peter Tinnemann said there is no risk of person-to-person transmission.

Mosquito traps have been installed across the airport, and captured insects are being analyzed to determine their species and origin. Airport employees have also been advised to seek medical attention immediately if they develop symptoms such as fever after working at the airport.

The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) described the incident as a rare example of airport malaria, a phenomenon in which infected mosquitoes are inadvertently transported by aircraft and infect people near airports. Germany's last recorded airport malaria case occurred at Frankfurt Airport in 2023. (ILKHA)