Malaria on the Run: Telangana Registers Decline

Hyderabad: Following Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday stating that India had achieved a 97 per cent reduction in malaria cases and was on course to become malaria-free in the near future, doctors in the state said gains had been made in controlling the disease.

Dr Amar Singh Nayak, additional director (malaria) at the Directorate of Public Health, said Telangana had reported 261 malaria cases last year and 270 this year. “A decade ago, malaria cases in the state were in the thousands, with the highest being nearly 14,000 in 2014,” he noted.

Dr Nayak said cases declined significantly between 2016 and 2018, ranging from 1,000 to 2,500 annually. “A major turnaround was seen after 2022, when over 7.5 lakh long-lasting insecticidal mosquito nets were distributed, which played a crucial role in reducing transmission,” he added.

He explained that malaria in Telangana was largely caused by to two factors — indigenous transmission in endemic areas and cases brought in by migrant labourers.

“Of the 261 cases reported, nearly 50 per cent were from Bhadradri Kothagudem district, and most of these patients were migrant workers from Chhattisgarh,” Dr Nayak told Deccan Chronicle. Smaller numbers were reported from Asifabad and Mulugu, while only sporadic cases were seen in urban areas.

Highlighting surveillance efforts, Dr Nayak said the state completed nearly 40 lakh screenings this year. “In every village, auxiliary nurse midwives (ANMs) conduct screenings using rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs). Once a case is detected, treatment is immediately initiated at primary health centres, followed by a repeat test after one week to ensure recovery,” he explained.

He stressed that sustained surveillance, early diagnosis, prompt treatment, and public awareness remain key to Telangana’s malaria control strategy.