UTTAR PRADESH JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY

Malaria remains a major public health challenge in Mizoram, India. The predominant malaria parasite is Plasmodium falciparum which accounts for malaria cases spread by Anopheles dirus and Anopheles minimus vector mosquitoes, which has thrived in Mizoram's humid and wet physiographic conditions. Remote sensing and GIS was used to analyse the environmental factors in association with malaria hot spot endemic regions. The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) values 0.015-0.13, and 0.18-0.27 shows water bodies, and agricultural crop land respectively, 0.27-0.36 provides moist environments correspond to wet irrigation agricultural cropland, and 0.36 to 0.74 have dense healthy vegetation with high water content which are ideal breeding grounds for Anopheles species malaria vector mosquitoes. Normalized Difference Moisture Index (NDMI) provides the result of blue and green shows the NDMI values from (-0.67) to high (0.07) indicates healthy vegetation with higher moisture levels, and NDWI values from (-0.145) to (0.159), indicates the presence of water bodies or regions with relatively higher moisture, and Land Surface Temperature (LST), values from 59^oF (15^oC) to 77^oF (25^oC), warm temperature region where the water bodies, with dense vegetation, and wet irrigation cultivation agricultural land, is suitable for vector mosquitoes fecundity, and support for both malaria vector mosquitoes and parasite development. Land Use Land Covers, such as wet irrigation agricultural cultivation lands, vegetation, and water features (94.81%), and PCA provides the results of (Band-1: 69.33 %), and (Band-2: 25.48%), indicates wet irrigation rice cultivation areas, standing water pools, and irrigation canals, which are the major source of malaria vector mosquitoes breeding grounds. Other bands, including NIR, SWIR, and MWIR, provide areas with healthy vegetation with soil moisture have direct influence on humidity and create a favourable environment for vector mosquitoes. The longitudinal trend analysis shows malaria Pf cases from 2000 to 2024 shows unpredictable surges, particularly in 2015-2016 and 2023. The present study has mainly focused on the factors influencing the disease's prevalence spatially tailored with the environmental and geographical factors. Despite the extensive efforts to eradicate malaria in Mizoram, the region has been facing the public health challenge due to its unique climate, dense forests, hilly topography, and heavy precipitation, which creates an ideal mosquito breeding ground. The endemic situation in the state requires a more comprehensive malaria control strategy with a region-specific approach along with community participation are essential for achieving malaria control in Mizoram.