Frankfurt Airport worker dies after malaria infection linked to airport cluster

An employee of Frankfurt Airport has died following a malaria infection, according to airport operator Fraport, which confirmed the death to German broadcaster Hessenschau.

Fraport said six staff members have now been affected and are receiving medical treatment. The German public health body, the Robert Koch Institute, had already confirmed four malaria cases among airport employees in mid-July, with those workers falling ill between July 4 and 6.

Health authorities believe the infections were caused by an infected Anopheles mosquito that arrived on an aircraft, a phenomenon sometimes referred to as airport malaria. Mosquito traps have been set up around the airport grounds, and captured insects are being sent to a laboratory for testing.

No further details on the identity of the deceased worker or the exact circumstances of the fatal case were disclosed. It remains unclear whether all six cases stem from the same source insect or from separate incidents.