Infectious Diseases Surge In India: 1 In 9 Tests Positive Of Dengue, Influenza A, Reports ICMR
India is witnessing a sharp rise in infectious diseases, with one in nine tests coming positive for dengue and influenza A, according to ICMR data. Experts warn of growing health risks and stress on prevention and timely testing.
India is facing a higher surge in infectious diseases this year, according to the latest data shared by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). A study was conducted by the scientists to identify the viral infections harming public health and guess what. It was discovered that 1 in 9 tested positive for infectious diseases. As per the reports, pathogens were detected in 11.1 per cent of the 4.5 lakh patients tested across the country between January and June 2025.
Infectious Diseases Increased by 0.8%
According to the ICMR data, the spread of infectious diseases has increased by 0.8%. "The spread of infectious diseases rose from 10.7 per cent in the first quarter to 11.5 per cent in the second quarter of 2025," according to the report. From January to March, out of 2,28,856 samples it studied, 24,502 (10.7 per cent) were found to contain pathogens.
"From April to June 2025, 26,055 (11.5%) of 2,26,095 samples tested positive. Thus, the infection rate increased by 0.8 percentage points over the previous quarter, indicating the necessity for more stringent monitoring of infection trends," it stated.
Top Infections Found Across India
The top five pathogens detected were Influenza A in acute respiratory infection (ARI)/severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) cases, dengue virus in acute fever and haemorrhagic fever cases, hepatitis A in jaundice cases, norovirus in acute diarrhoeal disease (ADD) outbreaks, and herpes simplex virus (HSV) in Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) cases.
191 Disease Clusters and Viral Infections Detected
Infectious disorders such as mumps, measles, rubella, dengue, chikungunya, rotavirus, norovirus, varicella zoster virus, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and astrovirus were discovered among the 191 disease clusters evaluated by the ICMR between April and June. Between 2014 and 2024, the ICMR analysed over 40 lakh samples, identifying infections in 18.8% of them with infections such as mumps, measles, rubella, dengue, chikungunya, rotavirus, norovirus, and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV).
Previously, from January to March, 389 disease clusters were evaluated, with common ailments including hepatitis, influenza, leptospirosis, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), among others.
Experts Urge Caution Despite Small Rise
While the increase may appear tiny, experts warn that it should not be underestimated. "A small increase in infection rates should not be ignored. It's a reminder to stay vigilant for seasonal diseases and new viral threats. If we continue tracking these patterns closely, we can prevent future epidemics before they spread," said a senior ICMR scientist.
Monitoring quarterly variations in infection rates helps detect early warning signals of outbreaks, allowing public health officials more time to respond.
