Key facts
- As of 28 August 2026, six cases of Plasmodium falciparum malaria have been reported among people working at Frankfurt International Airport. Five became ill in early July and one in mid-August. None reported travel to a malaria-endemic area.
- Two affected individuals have died, while the remaining four have been discharged from hospital.
- This is an airport-associated malaria event, in which one or more infectious Anopheles mosquitoes were transported by aircraft from a malaria-endemic area and subsequently transmitted Plasmodium falciparum at the airport.
- There is no increased risk to the general population.
- The German public health authorities are investigating the cases through epidemiological investigations, mosquito monitoring and genetic characterisation of parasites from patient samples.
- The German public health authorities are raising awareness among airport workers and have alerted healthcare professionals to consider malaria in people with unexplained fever who work at Frankfurt Airport, even without travel to a malaria-endemic area.
Overview
Since July 2026 and as of 28 August, six cases of Plasmodium falciparum malaria have been reported among individuals who worked at Frankfurt International Airport.
None of the cases reported travel to malaria-endemic regions. Two affected individuals have died, while the remaining four have been discharged from hospital.
The event is currently being investigated by the competent public health authorities in Germany to identify whether additional cases may be linked to this cluster.
ECDC assessment
Airport malaria occurs when one or more infectious Anopheles mosquitoes are inadvertently transported by aircraft from a malaria-endemic area and subsequently transmit malaria parasites after arrival. In this event, one or more mosquitoes that survived the journey are likely to have bitten people at the airport and transmitted Plasmodium falciparum.
Although airport malaria is uncommon, it has been reported sporadically in Europe. A 2024 systematic review identified 105 airport malaria cases reported between 1969 and 2022. Most occurred between June and September, when warmer conditions may favour the survival and activity of imported mosquitoes. Cases may occur individually or in clusters, with clusters of up to six cases previously reported. The Frankfurt event is therefore at the upper end of the cluster sizes described in Europe.
P. falciparum malaria can progress rapidly to severe disease and death if diagnosis and treatment are delayed. In airport-associated malaria events, the absence of travel to a malaria-endemic area may reduce clinical suspicion and contribute to delayed diagnosis.
There is no increased risk to the general population in the EU/EEA in relation to this event.
Actions
The German public health authorities are conducting epidemiological investigations, mosquito monitoring at Frankfurt Airport and genetic characterisation of parasites from patient samples. These investigations aim to clarify possible links between the cases and the likely source of infection.
The authorities have informed airport workers and alerted healthcare professionals. Clinicians should consider malaria in people with unexplained fever or compatible symptoms who work at Frankfurt Airport, even if they have not travelled to a malaria-endemic area. Prompt testing and treatment are important because P. falciparum malaria can rapidly become severe.
ECDC is in contact with the German public health authorities and is closely following the event.