Shillong: The Meghalaya Health Department has recently linked online gaming to the rise in malaria-related deaths among youths in the state. In 2023, eight malaria-related deaths were reported, all victims being under the age of 30—an age group typically considered the healthiest.
Meghalaya has faced significant malaria challenges, with a peak of 48,603 cases in 2015. However, data from India’s National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP) indicates a general decline in malaria incidence over the past decade. In 2021, the state recorded three malaria deaths, which increased to eight in 2022.
A senior health department official expressed concerns about the new trend of mobile gaming in rural areas, which is emerging as a contributing factor to malaria cases.
“Kids are sitting on the road or under a tree and are playing online games for long hours, they don’t realise mosquitoes are biting them and they don’t even take the time to kill the mosquito and that’s leading to many malaria cases,” explained the senior officer.
During a tour in March, the official observed groups of boys in Riangdo, Shallang, and the Garo Hills region playing online games outdoors to access better internet connectivity. Many youths, especially in Garo Hills, wear short pants during the summer and are so engrossed in their phones that they remain unaware of mosquito bites.
While older residents still take precautions against malaria, the younger generation shows less fear due to the decreased incidence of malaria in the past decade. The older population typically consults Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) and takes necessary precautions when feeling feverish. In contrast, younger individuals often ignore symptoms, even after several days of fever, leading to severe outcomes and fatalities.
The health department also noted a behavioral change in mosquitoes, with bite duration doubling over the past decade. “Before it used to bite for 8-12 seconds now it has doubled and gone up to 20-25 seconds which you won’t even realise, so mosquitoes are also evolving,” he added.
Last year, the state recorded a total of 8 malaria-related deaths, and all of these were in the age group of 30 years below, while in the past 10-12 years, there were 3-4 malaria-related deaths in a year.
To combat this trend, the department is providing bed nets and ensuring ASHAs are equipped with test kits and medicines. Kits and medicines are also distributed to small urban communities in Williamnagar, Baghmara, and Tura due to reported malaria cases in these areas.
High-risk districts identified include South Garo Hills, East Garo Hills, bordering South Garo Hills, and West Khasi Hills, while South West Garo Hills and Tura are considered lower risk.
The health department is also addressing the impact of climate change on malaria incidence and has initiated several meetings to list high-risk districts and implement precautionary measures.
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“We have had several meetings concerning malaria and we have listed the high-risk districts to ensure that things are controlled and that precautionary measures are taken, this is a problem that we know how to solve, and we have solved it and we cannot let it happen again,” mentioned the senior health officer.
To raise awareness, the department is enlisting influencers to promote malaria prevention on social media. However, the use of DDT fogging as a preventive measure faces opposition in some communities due to its detrimental effects on crops and vegetables, necessitating community consent before implementation.
Also Read | Meghalaya reports huge fall in Maternal Mortality Rate