Mizoram now has the highest malaria infection rate in the country and 13 people died due to the mosquito borne disease in 2023, an official of the state health department said on Thursday.

This was mentioned on the occasion of a state level World Malaria Day observation held in Aizawl on Thursday.

Dr. Eric Zomawia, Mission Director of National Health Mission (NHM) in his presentation said that a total of   18,005   people were diagnosed with malaria out of over 3 lakh blood samples tested in 2023.

Of the  18,005   people, 13 have died of the mosquito borne disease between January and December last year, he said.

He said that Mizoram registered a 76 per cent increase in malaria cases in 2023 as compared to the previous year 2022.

1,776 people have so far been confirmed positive for the mosquito borne disease between January and February this year, he said.

No death due to malaria has been reported this year till now, the official said.

He said that Mizoram now has the highest malaria infection rate per 1,000 population in the country.

Southernmost Mizoram’s Lawngtlai district is the most transmission risk area as its Annual Parasite Index (API) is 56.18 per cent, followed by Mamit district at 33.30 per cent.