Malaria Cases Surge Across Sindh

Malaria infections are on the rise in the Sindh province, with over 900 confirmed cases reported in a single day, according to official figures released on Monday. Health department records indicate that 10,033 individuals were screened for suspected malaria on August 24, and 916 tested positive for the disease. Hyderabad division led the count with 410 cases, followed by Larkana with 208, Mirpurkhas with 174, Benazirabad with 87, Sukkur with 77, and Karachi with 10 cases.

However, doctors in Karachi believe the official figures significantly underestimate the actual number of malaria patients in the city.

Medical professionals in Karachi have observed a steady increase in malaria cases over the past three weeks, despite the disease being present year-round. Dr. Imran Sarwar Shaikh, the additional medical superintendent and head of the emergency department at Dr. Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital in Karachi, reported daily admissions, with some days witnessing between eight and ten cases.

All patients treated at the hospital were diagnosed with vivax malaria. Dr. Shaikh emphasized the importance of completing the full 14-day treatment course, as incomplete treatment can lead to severe, even fatal, cases due to the parasite's ability to remain dormant in the liver and reactivate later.

Dr. Altaf Hussain Khatri, a senior general practitioner, also confirmed a gradual increase in malaria cases over the past three weeks, with approximately 20 to 25 patients reported weekly. Additionally, dengue cases were present but in smaller numbers. Dr. Khatri attributed the spread of malaria to weather conditions and the city's damaged sewerage system. Health experts are advocating for fumigation drives and improvements to the sewerage network to control mosquito populations and curb the spread of the disease.

Sindh has faced significant challenges with mosquito-borne diseases in recent years, with Karachi and Hyderabad hospitals recording high numbers of dengue and malaria cases in 2025, including multiple fatalities. A recent study by Karachi University suggests that integrating meteorological data into healthcare surveillance systems could help better predict infectious diseases like malaria.

The study revealed that disease incidence rises with increased temperature, humidity, and rainfall, noting that malaria cases often peak several weeks after monsoon rains.