Two Frankfurt Airport workers die in rare malaria outbreak

Two employees at Frankfurt Airport have died from malaria in a rare outbreak authorities believe was caused by infected mosquitoes brought into Germany on an aircraft, according to German health officials and the airport operator.

One death occurred in early July, with the cause confirmed only after the employee's death, Frankfurt's health authority said. A second death in August was confirmed Wednesday by Fraport, the airport operator. The cause of both deaths was determined to be malaria contracted at the airport despite neither employee having traveled to a malaria-risk country.

In total, six airport employees have contracted malaria in the outbreak. The remaining five infected individuals are receiving medical treatment, Fraport said in a statement to the BBC.

"Sadly, we must confirm that one employee has died as a result of the infection," a Fraport spokesperson told the BBC. "We have provided comprehensive information to all employees and encourage them to consult a doctor if they experience any symptoms."

German public health officials believe the mosquitoes originated in a malaria-endemic region and arrived at the airport aboard an aircraft. The outbreak represents a case of so-called airport malaria, a rare phenomenon in which malaria is transmitted at airports to individuals who have not traveled to endemic areas.

Fraport has installed traps at the airport to capture mosquitoes, which will be analyzed in a laboratory to determine their species and origin. The outbreak is being investigated by Frankfurt's health authority.

A Fraport spokesperson expressed "deepest sympathy" to the relatives of the deceased employee and confirmed the company had been informed by the responsible health authority of the death.