One in 9 Indians test positive for infectious diseases: Study
A new ICMR study found that more than one out of every nine people tested for infectious diseases in India came back positive between January and June 2025.
Over 4.5 lakh patients were included, showing that these illnesses are still a big concern.
Major diseases and their percentage of positive cases
The percentage of positive cases went up from 10.7% to 11.5% over just a few months.
The usual suspects? Influenza A (for respiratory issues), dengue (fever), Hepatitis A (jaundice), Norovirus (diarrhea), and Herpes simplex virus (encephalitis).
Growth of VRDL network
India's VRDL network has grown from just 27 labs in 2014 to a whopping 165 today, helping track down outbreaks fast.
In the first half of this year alone, they investigated 580 disease clusters—including mumps, measles, chikungunya, and several other infectious diseases.
Importance of lab testing
With infections ticking up, keeping an eye on disease trends through lab testing is more important than ever.
Early detection means health officials can act quickly to stop outbreaks before they spread—helping keep communities safer across India.