Germany - Airport malaria in Frankfurt 2026

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Airport malaria in Frankfurt: Two Fraport employees dead – six infections confirmed

An employee at Frankfurt Airport has died from a malaria infection. According to Fraport, a total of six employees have been infected at work.

Mario Jacob
August 26, 2026
August 26, 2026, 5:03 PM

Two employees of Frankfurt Airport have died from complications of malaria. This was confirmed by a spokesperson for the airport operator Fraport. According to the Frankfurt health department, the first death occurred in early July, the second in August.

"Our deepest condolences go out to the family of the deceased," said the spokesperson. Mosquitoes, likely brought to Frankfurt by plane, are suspected as the cause.

Four employees fell ill back in July.

In mid-July, the Robert Koch Institute ( RKI ) documented an outbreak of malaria among airport employees in its "Epidemiological Bulletin," initially with four cases. According to the RKI, the affected individuals fell ill between July 4th and 6th, 2026. The institute assumes that the infections were caused by an infected Anopheles mosquito imported on an airplane.

The number of known cases has now risen: According to a Fraport spokesperson, six employees have been infected in the line of work. They are currently receiving medical treatment. Mosquito traps have been set up at the airport, and mosquitoes have already been caught. The insects are now being examined in a laboratory.

What is airport malaria?

According to the German Federal Foreign Office, malaria is a life-threatening disease transmitted by mosquitoes that are active at dusk and at night. Particularly in high-risk groups, the disease can lead to coma and death. Protection against mosquito bites and the use of preventative medication can prevent infection.

According to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), so-called airport malaria is "very rare." It occurs when an infectious mosquito is brought in on an airplane or in luggage. Transmission then takes place on the plane, in the airport building, or in its immediate vicinity – without the affected individuals having traveled to a malaria-endemic area themselves.

According to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), the most recently documented case of this kind also occurred at Frankfurt Airport in 2023. The institute appeals to doctors who treat people who work at or are in the vicinity of airports with intercontinental passenger and cargo flights: especially in summer, they should consider airport malaria as a possible cause of unexplained fever without a travel history.

Flughafenmalaria in Frankfurt: Zwei Fraport-Mitarbeiter tot – sechs Infektionen bestätigt

Am Frankfurter Flughafen ist ein Beschäftigter an einer Malaria-Infektion gestorben. Insgesamt haben sich nach Angaben von Fraport sechs Mitarbeiter bei der Arbeit angesteckt.

www.berliner-zeitung.de

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The official German report from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) mentioned in the article above:
(Bulletin 29/2026 (published 16 July 2026)

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https://www.rki.de/DE/Aktuelles/Publikationen/Epidemiologisches-Bulletin/2026/29_26.pdf?__blob=publicationFile&v=2

...
Airport malaria among employees
at Frankfurt/Main International Airport

An outbreak of four cases of malaria (caused by *Plasmodium falciparum*) has been detected among employees at Frankfurt/Main International Airport. The affected individuals fell ill between July 4 and July 6, 2026. It is believed that the infection was transmitted by an infected *Anopheles* mosquito imported via aircraft. The Frankfurt public health department is investigating the incident. In Germany, malaria typically affects almost exclusively long-distance travelers who contracted the disease through the bite of an infected mosquito in an area where malaria transmission occurs.

Malaria transmitted in the vicinity of an airport is a rare occurrence in Germany and affects individuals who have not recently traveled to a malaria-endemic area. The absence of a travel history can lead to a delay in diagnosis. A delayed diagnosis increases the risk of a severe course of the disease. The last documented case of airport malaria in Germany occurred in 2023—also at Frankfurt Airport.

Physicians treating individuals who work at airports with intercontinental flight connections (passenger and cargo flights) or who spend time in their immediate vicinity should consider rare cases of airport malaria in their differential diagnosis—particularly during the summer—when faced with unexplained fever and no history of travel. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial to prevent severe illness and death.

Further information on malaria can be found in the RKI guide on malaria.

Further information on airport malaria can be found in these articles:
▶ Hallmaier-Wacker LK, van Eick MD, Briët O,
Delamare H, Falkenhorst G, Houzé S, et al. Airport and luggage (Odyssean) malaria in
Europe: a systematic review. Euro Surveill.
2024;29(41).
▶ Kessel J, Rosanas-Urgell A, Dingwerth T,
Goetsch U, Haller J, Huits R, et al. Investigation of an airport-associated cluster of falciparum malaria in Frankfurt, Germany, 2022.
Euro Surveill. 2024;29(5).
Note: The Robert Koch Institute does not provide individual medical advice regarding clinical presentation, treatment,
or vaccinations.

 

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CURRENT DATA AND INFORMATION
ON INFECTIOUS DISEASES AND PUBLIC HEALTH
Epidemiological
Bulletin 38 2026
17 September 2026
...
Airport malaria among employees and local residents
at Frankfurt am Main International Airport,

July–September 2026

Update: Between July and September 2026, a total of 8 cases of *Plasmodium falciparum* malaria (malaria tropica) linked to Frankfurt am Main International Airport were detected. Two of the affected individuals died.

Initially, six employees were affected—with onset of illness in early July (n = 5) and mid-August (n = 1)—who worked on the apron of Frankfurt am Main International Airport. Additionally, in September, two local residents with no recent history of travel abroad contracted *Plasmodium falciparum* malaria. They live in separate households in the Frankfurt-Schwanheim district.

It is assumed that the infections were likely transmitted by infected *Anopheles* mosquitoes imported via aircraft. The competent authorities are investigating the number of potential import events, the probable countries of origin of the parasites, and the circumstances surrounding the spread of the disease in Frankfurt am Main.

In Germany, malaria typically affects almost exclusively long-distance travelers who contract the disease via the bite of an infected mosquito in an area where malaria transmission occurs. Since 2015, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) has recorded 19 cases of malaria with probable transmission within Germany: 2 cases of nosocomial (hospital-acquired) infection, 1 case of "suitcase malaria" (transmission via a mosquito transported in luggage), 1 case of congenital mother-to-child transmission, 1 case with an unclear transmission route, and 14 cases of possible airport malaria (2 cases in 2019, 3 in 2022, 1 in 2023, and 8 in 2026). All cases of airport malaria are linked to Frankfurt am Main International Airport. Across Europe, cases of airport malaria remain rare, though they have been reported with increasing frequency in recent years. Favorable temperature and humidity conditions associated with climate change can promote the survival and activity of imported *Anopheles* mosquitoes after their arrival.

In addition to airport staff, residents of areas near airports have also been affected—for instance, during an outbreak in Belgium in 2020. Investigators there hypothesized that an infectious exotic *Anopheles* mosquito might have survived and reached a house located 5 km away.

Approximately half of the reported cases of airport malaria identified in a review of airport and baggage malaria in Europe occurred in outbreaks involving 2 to 6 cases per cluster.

The absence of a reported trip to the tropics (travel history) in affected individuals can lead to a delay in diagnosis. A delayed diagnosis increases the risk of a severe course of the disease.

A note to physicians: In patients presenting with fever who work at, live near, or have spent time at an airport, "airport malaria" should be considered in the differential diagnosis—particularly during the summer months and in cases involving flight connections (passenger or cargo) to tropical regions. In addition to fever, other symptoms—such as gastrointestinal complaints—may occur and potentially predominate the clinical presentation. Untreated *Plasmodium falciparum* malaria can rapidly prove fatal; therefore, diagnostic testing and, if necessary, treatment must be initiated as quickly as possible whenever malaria is suspected.

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https://www.rki.de/DE/Aktuelles/Publikationen/Epidemiologisches-Bulletin/2026/38_26.pdf?__blob=publicationFile&v=2

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FAQs Airport Malaria

The Frankfurt am Main Public Health Department is providing an update on malaria cases linked to Frankfurt Airport. We have compiled the most important questions and answers below.

If you have any further questions, our hotline is available from 9 am to 6 pm at069/212-30030Internal Linkavailable.
...
What type of malaria are the current cases?
To our knowledge, the eight cases involve malaria tropica, which is transmitted by the pathogen Plasmodium falciparum.

Can you tell us the total number of infected people and an approximate timeframe for their arrival in the current wave?
The Frankfurt am Main public health department was aware of a total of six cases this year linked to Frankfurt Airport. In September, two further cases were reported among Frankfurt residents who had not traveled to malaria-endemic areas and were not connected to the airport. These cases have in common that they live near the airport.

Are the new cases related to the infection rates in July and August?
It's impossible to say for sure – especially at this point. Specialized laboratory tests can provide clues as to whether the infections can be traced back to a single source. These investigations are ongoing, and a final assessment is not expected for several weeks.

Are there any other suspected cases at present?
We are currently unaware of any other suspected cases. (Status: September 16, 2026)

Where are the infected people being treated?
For data protection reasons, we cannot provide any further information on personal data.

You have reported that a person infected with malaria tropica has died. Did the person die from this infection?
We confirm that a person reported to the health department as having malaria has died.
We do not provide any personal or medical data of individual patients.

Is there now a danger to the population?
No, the risk to the general population is still considered very low.

How can there be no danger if a person has died from this infection?
The death of one person demonstrates that malaria can be dangerous for humans and must be taken very seriously. However, this is not the same as the risk to the population as a whole. Our assessment of the risk to public health is based on the current expert evaluation of the transmission risk of malaria and the specific circumstances.

Did the hospital inform the public health department about the death?
Yes

Do people who have had contact with this person need to take any action now?
No, malaria infection is not transmissible from person to person.

Did the patients who died have pre-existing conditions, or was their illness diagnosed too late?
For data protection reasons, we cannot provide information on personal matters.

What is meant by airport malaria?
Airport malaria is transmitted by Anopheles mosquitoes infected with malaria pathogens, introduced into the vicinity of airports with connections to malaria-endemic areas.

How does the Frankfurt am Main health department assess the situation regarding airport malaria?
Airport malaria is an extremely rare occurrence that can happen due to the introduction of malaria-infected Anopheles mosquitoes into the vicinity of airports with connections to malaria-endemic areas.
An infected mosquito that has traveled with the passenger can then bite people at or near the airport, thus transmitting the parasite.

Can you speak with certainty about airport malaria?
We can confirm that two cases of malaria have occurred at a residential area near the airport.

...

https://frankfurt.de/themen/gesundheit/insektenueberwachung/stechmuecken/flughafenmalaria

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FAQ
Tropical disease
How dangerous are the current malaria cases?

As of September 18, 2026 • 11:28 AM

Another person has died of malaria in Frankfurt am Main, reportedly infected by an introduced mosquito. Are further cases imminent? And will the risks decrease with autumn?

How many infections have there been so far?

According to the city of Frankfurt, eight cases of malaria have been confirmed. Three people have died. Initially, six employees of the airport operator Fraport contracted the disease in the summer – two of them died. On Tuesday, two more cases were reported in the Schwanheim district, which is about five kilometers from the airport – one of them died yesterday, and the other was still being treated in a hospital.

How did the infections occur?

According to the public health department, the cause is believed to be Anopheles mosquitoes from a malaria-endemic area, which presumably arrived in Frankfurt by plane. The two affected individuals in Schwanheim had not been abroad and were not employed at the airport. Nevertheless, the public health department assumes that the transmitting mosquito came from the airport and that this is also a case of so-called airport malaria.

Whether the Frankfurt cases are related is still under investigation, according to the health department. Specialized laboratory tests may provide clues as to whether the infections can be traced back to a single source of pathogens.

Should residents living near airports be worried?

It is very rare for mosquitoes like these to roam within a radius of several kilometers around an airport, says Peter Tinnemann, head of the public health department. Citizens should not worry, but should be vigilant if they experience symptoms. "This applies particularly to people who work at or near Frankfurt Airport, spend time there, or live in close proximity to the airport."Symptoms include fever, chills, headache, body aches, and gastrointestinal problems. It is important to see a doctor as soon as possible.

What is so insidious about airport malaria?

In the current case, residents near the airport are affected; previously, it was Fraport employees. Because they had not been in malaria-endemic areas, the illness was not initially suspected. "A lack of travel to tropical regions in infected individuals can lead to a delayed diagnosis. A delayed diagnosis increases the risk of a severe course of the disease," according to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI).

The Frankfurt Health Department is therefore urging citizens and doctors to consider airport malaria if such symptoms occur. Diagnosis can be made with a rapid test. The incubation period after a mosquito bite is seven to 15 days. The first signs are often misinterpreted as a flu-like infection or gastrointestinal illness, according to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI).

What transmission methods are there?

Human-to-human transmission does not occur. In cases of airport malaria, the infected mosquito arrives in Germany via air travel, for example, in the luggage compartment. It is also possible for a mosquito to survive in a transported suitcase. In very rare cases, mother-to-child transmission is possible.

How often do malaria infections occur in Germany?"

Across Europe, cases of airport malaria remain rare," the RKI emphasizes. However, such cases have been reported "increasingly" in recent years. "Favorable temperature and humidity conditions resulting from climate change can promote the survival and activity of imported Anopheles mosquitoes after their arrival."

Since 2015, the RKI has been aware of 19 cases of malaria with probable transmission in Germany: two cases of hospital infection, one case of "suitcase malaria", one mother-child transmission, one case with an unclear transmission route and 14 cases of possible airport malaria (two cases in 2019, three cases in 2022, one case in 2023, eight cases in 2026)."

The risk of so-called airport malaria is well known," says Friedrich Frischknecht from Heidelberg University Hospital. "It is extremely rare and will remain extremely rare, even if the number of cases may increase slightly with rising travel."

Are there any comparable cases to Schwanheim?

"All cases of airport malaria are linked to Frankfurt International Airport," says the Robert Koch Institute (RKI). Infections have also occurred near airports in other countries. In a 2020 outbreak in Belgium, in addition to airport employees, residents of neighboring areas were also affected. As in Schwanheim, those affected lived approximately five kilometers from the airport.
...

Source: dpa

FAQ: Wie gefährlich sind die aktuellen Malaria-Fälle?

In Frankfurt am Main ist erneut ein Mensch an der Tropenkrankheit Malaria gestorben, er soll von einer eingeschleppten Mücke infiziert worden sein. Drohen weitere Fälle? Und sinken mit dem Herbst die Risiken?

www.tagesschau.de