Low testing, climate change hamper India's fight against Dengue and Malaria

Experts say India needs more decentralised planning, and access to testing and treatment for malaria and dengue

India is unable to eliminate malaria and dengue because of a lack of testing and diagnosis of these diseases, and because of delayed treatment, experts say. In addition, climate change is making the weather more conducive to mosquitos, the vectors that spread these diseases.

India accounted for about 82% of all malaria deaths and as many cases in South-East Asia in 2020. Reported cases of dengue increased 22%, from 157,315 cases in 2019 to 193,245 cases in 2021.

Both malaria and dengue are vector-borne diseases, spread by organisms, like mosquitoes, that transport parasites and pathogens from one infected person (or