text: Contemporary medical research comparing Tharu with other ethnic groups living nearby found an incidence of malaria nearly seven times lower among Tharu. The researchers believed such a large difference pointed to genetic factors rather than behavioural or dietary differences. This was confirmed by follow-up investigation finding genes for thalassemia in nearly all Tharu studied.
  Tharu people have limited, not complete, immunity to malaria. Many Tharus, particularly babies, died from malaria.
  Notable Tharu people
  Barsha Lekhi - Miss Nepal 2016
  Bijay Kumar Gachhadar - politician and Former Deputy Prime Minister of Nepal
  Dilli Bahadur Chaudhary - politician and chief minister of Lumbini Province
  Aman Lal Modi - Nepalese Minister of Federal Affairs
  Umakant Chaudhary - politician and the former minister for Water Supply of Nepal
  Resham Lal Chaudhary - Nepalese politician
  Sarswati Chaudhary - Nepalese track and field athlete
  Tilak Ram Tharu -  Nepalese track and field athlete
  Ganga Chaudhary Satgauwa - politician
  Mamta Chaudhary - cricketer
  Teju Lal Chaudhary - politician
  Dipendra Chaudhary - cricketer
  Aditya Chaudhary - Nepali footballer
  Shanta Chaudhary - politician, Nepalese Women Writer
  Arun Kumar Chaudhary - politician
  Mangal Prasad Tharu - politician
  Shivani Singh Tharu -  Nepalese former talk show host, model, and playwright
  Arti Rana - Indian social entrepreneur