ICMR Study Says One in 9 Indians Test Positive for Infectious Disease; Here’s Why

A new eye-opening study done by the Indian Council of Medical Research says pathogens are found in 11.1 per cent of the 4.5 lakh patients – meaning that they are suffering from acute, deadly infections.

The research, conducted as part of efforts to identify viral infections of public health significance, have said that Influenza A in acute respiratory infection (ARI)/ severe acute respiratory infections (SARI cases), dengue virus among acute fever and hemorrhagic fever cases, Hepatitis A in jaundice cases, Norovirus in among acute diarrheal disease (ADD) outbreaks and Herpes simplex virus (HSV) in Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) cases, are the top pathogens found among Indians. According to the ICMR report, 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. Statistics also show that between January and March, out of 2,28,856 samples, 24,502 (10.7 per cent) were found to contain pathogens. From April to June 2025, 26,055 (11.5 per cent) out of 2,26,095 samples tested positive. And so, the infection rate rose by 0.8 percentage points over the previous quarter, signalling the need for stronger monitoring of infection trends. Scientists are worried that even though the spike may not appear too much, it should not be underestimated, as it could serve as a warning for seasonal diseases and emerging infections.

Clusters of infections are rising

The report also found that in the summer months this year, more than 190 disease clusters were investigated, and infectious diseases like mumps, measles, rubella, dengue, chikungunya, rotavirus, norovirus, varicella zoster virus, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and astrovirus were identified, which saw a significant increase.

Why is India becoming a breeding place for pathogens?

Experts believe the emergence of many deadly diseases is attributed to novel pathogens and spreads rapidly due to poor sanitation and overcrowding of living conditions. Doctors attribute the main factors responsible for outbreaks to human and a few environmental factors, which include rapid urbanization, climate change, growing population, and many socio-economic conditions that have created an environment conducive to the rise of new pathogens. The convergence of factors like poor sanitation, inadequate healthcare, climate change, and increased human-animal interaction increases the risk of pathogen emergence and transmission. Also, the chances of viral epidemics are high since viruses evolve and adapt very quickly, making them resistant or difficult to treat. Since India has a tropical environment, it also encourages the growth of disease-causing organisms, making containment difficult due to crowded cities and limited healthcare infrastructure. The formation of new infectious diseases is further facilitated by the development of antibiotic resistance – a worrying factor across the world.