Archive · 28 Aug 2026
India Reports Nearly 80% Malaria Decline, High-Burden Districts Fall
India says malaria cases and deaths fell by almost 80% between 2015 and 2025.
Malaria is a disease spread by mosquitoes.
The number of districts with many malaria cases dropped from 155 to 33.
Also, 160 districts reported no locally transmitted malaria cases from 2022 to 2025.
However, the remaining high-burden districts still accounted for most reported cases and deaths in 2025.
Officials want people to be tested, treated and followed up quickly.
They also want medicines and testing to remain available in hard-to-reach areas.
The government is asking communities and other departments to help remove mosquito-breeding sites as India works toward eliminating malaria by 2030.
India recorded nearly 80% declines in malaria cases and deaths between 2015 and 2025.
The number of high-burden malaria districts fell from 155 to 33.
The 33 remaining high-burden districts accounted for 64% of cases and 54% of deaths reported in 2025.
A total of 160 districts reported zero indigenous malaria cases during 2022-2025.
Health officials urged stronger surveillance, faster diagnosis and treatment, and environmental measures to support malaria elimination by 2030.
- Who
- The Union Health Ministry, National Centre for Vector Borne Diseases Control, state National Health Missions and district administrations reviewed malaria control efforts; Aradhana Patnaik chaired the meeting.
- What
- Officials reviewed India’s progress in reducing malaria and strategies for controlling transmission in 33 high-burden districts.
- When
- The review was reported on August 28; the ministry compared malaria outcomes from 2015 to 2025 and district data from 2022 to 2025.
- Where
- The review covered 33 high-burden districts across nine states and Union Territories, including Mizoram, Odisha, Tripura, Assam, Andhra Pradesh, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Maharashtra.
- Why
- The meeting aimed to prevent a resurgence of malaria and accelerate India’s target of eliminating it by 2030.
- Malaria decline
- Cases and deaths declined by nearly 80% between 2015 and 2025.
- High-burden districts
- The number fell from 155 to 33.
- Zero indigenous cases
- 160 districts reported zero indigenous malaria cases during 2022-2025.
- Share of 2025 cases
- The 33 high-burden districts accounted for 64% of malaria cases reported in 2025.
- Share of 2025 deaths
- The 33 high-burden districts accounted for 54% of malaria deaths reported in 2025.
- Elimination target
- India reaffirmed its commitment to the Sustainable Development Goal of eliminating malaria by 2030.
- Control strategy
- Officials emphasised the “Test, Treat and Track” approach, active surveillance and uninterrupted access to testing and anti-malarial drugs.
