Malaria infections worrying public health experts in Keralam

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The increased instances of indigenous and imported cases of malaria over the past five years have left the health authorities a worried lot.

Imported malaria is acquired outside Keralam, while indigenous malaria is acquired through local transmission, when a local mosquito picks up the parasite from an infected person and transmits it to another person.

Going by the Health department statistics, as of October 5, four confirmed indigenous cases were reported in 2026, and 974 imported cases.

One death due to indigenous malaria and six deaths due to imported cases have been reported this year. Last year, no deaths due to indigenous cases were reported, while two deaths occurred due to imported cases.

The number of cases began to rise after 2021, when 252 imported and one indigenous death case were reported. The highest number of indigenous cases was reported from Malappuram, Kozhikode, and Kannur. Kollam, which earlier showed a high incidence of these cases, is in a recovery phase.