Malaria, long considered a seasonal illness linked to the monsoon, is now emerging as a year-round health threat in India, with a worrying spike during peak summer months. According to Dr. Gaurav Gupta, Consultant in Internal Medicine at Saifee Hospital, most cities in India are increasingly reporting malaria cases even before the rains begin, signalling a dangerous shift in disease patterns.
“While the numbers may not be exactly equal to monsoon peaks, they are significant enough to highlight a changing trend,” he toldTimes Now.
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One of the biggest factors behind this trend is climate change and rising temperatures. Traditionally, extreme heat was believed to limit mosquito survival. However, experts now warn that both the Anopheles mosquito and the malaria-causing parasite (Plasmodium) are adapting to warmer climates.
As temperatures climb above 30°C, the parasite matures faster inside the mosquito, accelerating transmission cycles. This means summer is no longer a safe period, and the risk of infection begins much earlier than previously thought. “Earlier, high temperatures were thought to limit their spread, but now both the parasite and the vector are adapting well to these conditions,” said Dr. Gupta.
Rising temperatures in summer months are spiking malaria cases across the country
Another critical contributor is the urban heat island effect. Dense cities like Mumbai, packed with concrete structures, trap heat and create localized warm zones - ideal for mosquito breeding. Additionally, rapid urbanisation has led to:
Improper water storage is a major yet often overlooked cause. Open containers, rooftop tanks, drums, and even small objects like discarded shells or construction debris can collect water and become mosquito habitats. With rising temperatures, these breeding sites become even more active, leading to a sharp rise in mosquito populations during summer. “When the breeding of mosquitoes increases, the risk of malaria transmission naturally rises,” said Dr. Gupta.
According to Dr. Divya Gopal from Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital, one of the biggest dangers is misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis. Early malaria symptoms - fever, chills, fatigue - are often mistaken for heatstroke, viral infections, and seasonal flu.
This delay can lead to severe complications such as anemia, organ damage, and cerebral malaria, especially in infections caused by Plasmodium falciparum, the most dangerous strain. “At this point, they may be having complications such as severe anemia and cerebrals. The danger among those affected by P. falciparum is greater due to its severity,” she said.
Source: India Latest News, Breaking News Today, Top News Headlines | Times Now
