Two workers at Germany’s Frankfurt Airport have died after contracting malaria believed to have been spread by a mosquito brought into the country via an aircraft.
A total of six employees became infected with what is known as airport malaria, Fraport, the company that operates the airport, told CNN. Two subsequently died.
“We are shocked and deeply saddened by the loss of our colleagues, and our thoughts are with their families and friends,” Fraport said.
The four other employees have since recovered, according to a report in German news magazine Der Spiegel.
Airport malaria is a very rare form of the disease’s transmission and occurs when a mosquito survives a flight from a malaria-endemic country and transmits the disease at or near the airport.
