The rising incidence of malaria in Malkangiri district has triggered concern at the state level, with 7,239 positive cases detected in seven months and 2,816 cases reported in July alone, leading to three deaths this year.
The alarming trend was reviewed at a state‑level task force meeting chaired by Health Commissioner‑cum‑Secretary Ashwathi S. at Kharavela Bhavan, Bhubaneswar. Following the review, a state team led by the Additional Director (Vector‑Borne Diseases) will visit Malkangiri on September 7 to assess the situation across blocks, particularly in Swabhiman areas and tribal residential schools.
The team will examine progress in patient detection, treatment, mosquito net distribution, blood testing, and awareness programmes, with a detailed report to be submitted to the Health Department.
Officials noted that while malaria cases had drastically reduced after 2016, infections have been rising again since 2024, especially during the monsoon months of June to October due to mosquito breeding. Kudumulugumma block alone accounts for 40% of cases (2,858 patients).
Political leaders have raised questions over the effectiveness of spending lakhs of rupees on control programmes, alleging negligence by district vector‑borne disease officials. BJD district president Manas Madkami demanded a probe into mosquito net distribution, while MLA Mangu Khilla warned he would raise the issue in the Assembly.
CDMO Dr Mohammad Abid Hussain acknowledged that malaria cases typically rise during the rainy season but assured that numbers would gradually decline.
