The Business Bytes
Mumbai, November 8, 2024 (TBB Bureau): Zuno General Insurance, formerly Edelweiss General Insurance, has reported a significant rise in claims for typhoid and other vector-borne diseases during this year’s extended monsoon season from June to September. Data reveals a 37% increase in typhoid cases compared to last year, a trend that diverges from the usual dominance of viral infections during the monsoon, highlighting changing public health patterns in affected regions.
Alongside typhoid, the five most common infectious diseases reported this season included acute gastroenteritis (AGE), viral fever, dengue, and pneumonia. Combined, these diseases led to a 36% increase in health claims from the previous year, with vector-borne illnesses alone contributing to 24% of the rise.
Regionally, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Gujarat emerged as the most affected states for FY25, a shift from FY24’s top three, which were Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Haryana.
Treatment costs have also seen a slight increase, with daily expenses for viral illnesses up by 2% compared to last year. This cost increase is attributed to the need for higher-grade medications, reflecting the extensive treatments often required for viral infections during monsoon. The average hospital stay for these illnesses remained steady at approximately 3.5 days, with claim amounts ranging from Rs 9,000 to Rs 6.8 lakh.
Nitin Deo, Chief Technology Officer and Head of Strategy at Zuno General Insurance, noted, “The current spike in typhoid, spread through contaminated water or food, highlights the effects of this year’s prolonged monsoon, particularly in cities like Palghar, Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, and the Delhi NCR region. This rise in infections underscores the importance of vigilance as environmental factors increasingly impact health outcomes. Zuno is dedicated to addressing these evolving health risks and ensuring our policyholders have adequate coverage.”
Adults aged 31-45 years were the most affected demographic, experiencing a 43% increase in hospitalization frequency over last year. This trend remains consistent across genders, with a near-equal male-to-female claim distribution ratio of 53:47.
