Odisha, 63.6% increase in malaria cases in 2024

The Indian state of Odisha has recorded a 63.6% increase in malaria cases in 2024 compared to the previous year, thus occupying the top position in the country’s malaria incidence ranking. The National Centre for Vector Borne Diseases Control (NCVBDC) reported 68,693 malaria cases, including 50,501 cases due to P. falciparum, and eight deaths in the previous year. In 2023, around 41,973 cases and four deaths were recorded. In 2018, Odisha attained an 80% reduction in malaria cases. According to health officials, 78% of cases were from five districts – Kalahandi, Rayagada, Kandhamal, Koraput, and Malkangiri – where the national Durgama Anchalare Malaria Nirakaran (DAMaN) programme is being implemented to achieve malaria elimination by 2030. The increase in cases has given rise to significant concerns regarding the efficacy of the DAMaN programme, particularly regarding the underreporting of asymptomatic cases, which account for over two-thirds of actual malaria cases that are not recorded in national health surveillance registers. Asymptomatic patients have been identified as a reservoir for malaria parasite transmission and are considered a potential precursor to symptomatic malaria, according to the NCVBDC. This has led to an urgent call for local health officials to implement immediate corrective measures. The incorporation of symptomatic positive cases, as confirmed by targeted screening, into national reporting frameworks is imperative for the accurate reflection of the actual disease burden and epidemiological trends within the country.