Meghalaya: Online gaming linked to malaria deaths among youth

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.