By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Nov 16: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a climate-based health advisory pointing to increased malaria transmission potential across Meghalaya and other states over the next two weeks.
As per reports, the alert comes as part of the IMD’s Climate Information for Health Bulletin, which serves as an early-warning tool for public health planning across India.
According to the advisory, temperatures in all districts between November 14 and 20 are expected to hover between 33–39°C during the day and 14–15°C at night — a range considered ideal for the spread of Plasmodium vivax, the strain of malaria prevalent in the region. Most districts continue in this risk zone from November 21 to 27, barring East and West Jaintia Hills where temperatures begin deviating from the critical thresholds.
IMD officials made it clear that this isn’t an outbreak forecast, but rather a climate-linked alert underscoring how weather conditions may support mosquito survival and parasite development. They added that such climate services have been “highly appreciated” by state health departments.
The IMD bulletin also clarified that despite the warm conditions, dengue remains unlikely, with Meghalaya staying outside the temperature band that enables dengue virus transmission.
Meanwhile, Meghalaya’s public health efforts appear to be paying off. Reports show that the state has witnessed a substantial decline in malaria cases despite intensified testing. Over 5.1 lakh blood samples were examined between January and August 2025, an increase of 39.11% over the average of the past three years.
The aggressive surveillance coincides with a 46.41% drop in malaria cases — from 489 positive detections last year to 286 during the same period in 2025. A significant reduction was also noted in Plasmodium falciparum cases, which plummeted by over 51% against the three-year average.
Meghalaya’s Total Positivity Rate has fallen to 0.05 from 0.11 in 2024, a stark contrast to the three-year average of 0.13. Social networks have been cited as a key factor in this decline, with research suggesting that community-driven support systems are outperforming traditional health campaigns in the fight against malaria.
