2 airport workers die of malaria from mosquito on plane in Germany, 4 others sickened

August 28, 2026 / 8:29 AM EDT / CBS/AFP

2 airport workers die of malaria from mosquito on plane in Germany, 4 others sickened

TL;DR

  • Two Frankfurt Airport workers have died from malaria.
  • Four other infected employees are hospitalized and undergoing treatment.
  • An imported Anopheles mosquito carried by an aircraft is believed to be the cause.
  • Traps have been set up at the airport for mosquito analysis.
  • Malaria transmission within a German airport is considered rare.
  • The risk to the general Frankfurt population is deemed very low.
  • Laboratory tests are underway to determine the source of the infections.
  • Malaria parasites in patients' blood samples will be analyzed.