Declining malaria burden in the state
Towards a Malaria-Free Tamil Nadu: Tamil Nadu has moved into the advanced phase of malaria elimination, with 33 out of 38 districts reporting zero indigenous malaria cases for the last three consecutive years. This reflects long-term disease control planning and consistent public health execution.
The overall malaria burden has dropped sharply from 5,587 cases in 2015 to just 321 cases in 2025. This decline marks one of the steepest malaria reductions recorded by any Indian state in the last decade.
Static GK fact: Malaria is caused by Plasmodium parasites and transmitted through the bite of female Anopheles mosquitoes.
District-level concentration of cases
Only five districts continue to report cases: Chennai, Ramanathapuram, Thoothukudi, Chengalpattu, and Salem. These districts together account for nearly 37%–45% of the total malaria burden in the state.
Urban and coastal geography, labour migration, port connectivity, and population mobility play a role in sustaining low-level transmission in these areas.
In Chennai alone, cases declined from 173 in 2023 to 121 in 2025, showing consistent urban disease control performance.
Static GK Tip: Coastal districts often face higher vector density due to humidity, stagnant water bodies, and port-linked migration flows.
Shift from indigenous to imported malaria
Recent data shows a structural shift in malaria transmission patterns. Most cases are now imported, not locally transmitted.
In 2023, 330 of 384 cases were imported.
In 2024, 208 of 347 cases were imported.
In 2025, 203 of 321 cases were imported.
This indicates that local transmission chains are largely broken, and the disease now enters mainly through inter-state migrant labour movement and occupational travel.
Surveillance and health system response
The Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine leads malaria surveillance in Tamil Nadu. Monitoring systems operate through:
- Blood smear testing
• Fever case surveillance in Primary Health Centres (PHCs)
• Screening at Government Hospitals (GHs)
• Special tracking of migrant labour populations
This multi-layered approach ensures early detection, rapid response, and prevention of secondary transmission.
Static GK fact: India’s malaria control framework operates under the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP).
Epidemiological stability indicators
Tamil Nadu’s Annual Parasite Incidence (API) has fallen below 1%, a key elimination benchmark.
There have been no malaria outbreaks in the past three years, indicating sustained epidemiological stability.
This shows the transition from disease control to elimination-phase governance, where surveillance and prevention become more important than treatment load.
Strategic significance for India’s malaria goals
Tamil Nadu’s progress aligns with India’s national malaria elimination target of 2030. The state now represents a low-transmission model, where imported case management and migration-linked surveillance become central strategies.
Future elimination success will depend on border screening, labour mobility monitoring, and urban vector control, especially in coastal and industrial zones.
Static GK Tip: WHO defines malaria elimination as zero indigenous transmission for at least three consecutive years in a defined geographic area.
Static Usthadian Current Affairs Table
Towards a Malaria-Free Tamil Nadu:
| Topic | Detail |
| State status | 33 out of 38 districts malaria-free |
| Case decline | 5,587 (2015) → 321 (2025) |
| Active districts | Chennai, Ramanathapuram, Thoothukudi, Chengalpattu, Salem |
| Urban trend | Chennai cases reduced from 173 (2023) to 121 (2025) |
| Transmission type | Predominantly imported cases |
| Surveillance authority | Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine |
| Health infrastructure | PHCs, Government Hospitals, blood smear testing |
| Epidemiological marker | API below 1% |
| Outbreak status | No outbreaks in last three years |
| National alignment | India malaria elimination target 2030 |
