Jamshedpur June 28 (IANS). Brain (cerebral) malaria has wreaked havoc in Potka block of East Singhbhum district of Jharkhand. There has been a stir in the health department after the death of three innocent children in the area within the last 48 hours. New patients are continuously being found in the affected villages, while more than 20 patients have been admitted to the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial (MGM) Medical College Hospital in Jamshedpur, out of which the condition of many children remains very critical.
Jharkhand: Brain malaria wreaks havoc in East Singhbhum, three children die in 48 hours, more than 20 hospitalized
In view of this frightening form of infection, the Health Department has intensified special surveillance, large-scale screening and medical campaign in nine villages of Potka. District Surveillance Officer Asad said that with the onset of monsoon, an unexpected increase in cases of malaria and cerebral malaria has been recorded in nine villages of Potka block. He has confirmed the death of some children due to this disease.
The children who have died so far due to this disease include Lakhi Sardar, a seventh class student of PMShri Kasturba Gandhi Residential School, eight-year-old Rahul Sardar of Rundodia village and eight-year-old Subola Sardar of Kandar village. Apart from this, Khushboo Sardar, one year old sister of the deceased Subola Sardar, is also in the grip of this serious infection, who is kept on ventilator support in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) of MGM Hospital in a critical condition.
During the intensive screening being conducted by the Health Department, more than 14 new infected people, including three girl students of Kasturba Gandhi Vidyalaya and a nine-month-old girl from the tribal Sabar community, have been identified. Special health camps have been set up in the affected villages, where the health of more than 600 villagers has been examined so far.
Meanwhile, the administration took immediate action and sealed a private clinic located in Potka for alleged negligence in the treatment of Lakhi Sardar, a deceased student of Kasturba Gandhi Vidyalaya. Investigation revealed that despite the student having clear symptoms of brain malaria, she was not given proper treatment. The administration has also issued a show cause notice to the clinic operator.
Considering the seriousness of the matter, a high level team of the Health Department inspected the Potka Community Health Centre. The team expressed displeasure over the lack of resources found there and has given instructions to ensure immediate availability of additional spray pumps, Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) kits and essential life-saving medicines. The Health Department has intensified the mosquito-borne disease control campaign on a war footing along with ‘mass fever survey’ and door-to-door screening in the affected areas.
Medical officials have appealed to the general public not to be careless and immediately get checked at the nearest health center if symptoms like high fever, shivering, headache, vomiting, fainting or seizures appear. Along with this, villagers are being strictly advised to use mosquito nets regularly, wear full sleeve clothes and not allow water to accumulate around their houses.
–IANS
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