In an unusual and concerning turn of events, a worker at Germany's busiest airport, Frankfurt International, has tragically lost his life due to malaria. This deadly infection, typically spread by mosquito bites, has affected six employees in total, with five others currently undergoing treatment. The outbreak is believed to have originated from mosquitoes that arrived at the airport on an incoming plane, according to German public health officials. Fraport, the airport operator, has confirmed the grim news and emphasized their efforts to inform all staff members about the situation and encourage them to seek medical help if necessary. Traps have been set up at the airport, and captured mosquitoes will be analyzed in a laboratory to determine their species and origin. The Robert Koch Institute, a German federal agency responsible for disease control and public health, has reported that four employees fell ill between July 4th and 6th. Malaria is usually contracted by long-haul travelers who were infected in malaria-endemic regions, making this instance of transmission within the airport rare. The last such incident was reported at Frankfurt Airport in 2023. The Frankfurt Public Health Department, leading the investigation into the outbreak, has been contacted for comment by the BBC. Malaria, a preventable and curable disease primarily found in tropical countries according to the World Health Organization (WHO), can have mild or life-threatening symptoms if left untreated.