Half of malaria cases in 16-35 age-group, insurance data shows

More than half of malaria patients in India are in the 16-35 age bracket and are predominantly those who leave the house everyday for work or education, according to the data compiled by an insurance firm.
It also shows that maximum number of insurance claims over malaria came from Gujarat, followed by Maharashtra.
"About 52 per cent of malaria claims are within 16 to 35 years of age and 28 per cent in 36 to 50 years. These are the people who are out of home more compared to other age groups," according to a report of the SBI General Insurance.

The company analysed internal claims data of the past five years to discover trends.
April 25 is observed as 'World Malaria Day'.
Of the total claims received for certain infectious and parasitic diseases, 9 per cent were related to malaria.

In the last three years, frequency of claims over malaria fell from 3 per cent in FY14 to 2 per cent in FY15 and 1 per cent in FY16.
On an average, these claims constitute 2 per cent of the settled claims. Of this, 53.59 per cent cases are of Vivax Malaria and 32.34 per cent are of Falciparum Malaria. Some 13 per cent cases are unspecified.

Highest number of claims were received from Gujarat (32 per cent) followed by Maharashtra (21 per cent).
September and October are the two months when the highest number of claims were received in the last two years.
India is working and making progress towards elimination of malaria. Since 2000, number of malaria cases in the country has more than halved, from 2 million to 8,82,000 in 2013.