Brain malaria outbreak in E. Singhbhum, three children die
Pioneer News Service
Jamshedpur
The outbreak of brain malaria in Potka block of East Singhbhum has taken a grim turn, with three schoolchildren losing their lives within two days, triggering panic among residents. Health officials have intensified surveillance and treatment measures as fresh cases continue to emerge from the affected villages.
The latest victim was eight-year-old Subola Sardar of Kandar village, who succumbed to the disease on Friday. Her death came barely a day after two other children — Lakhi Sardar, a Class VII student of PM-SHRI Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV), Potka, and eight-year-old Rahul Sardar of Daurdodiya village — died after contracting cerebral malaria.
The condition of Subola’s one-year-old sister, Khushbu Sardar, remains critical. She is undergoing treatment at Tara Seva Sadan in Hata.
The Health Department confirmed nine new cases of cerebral malaria on Friday, including three students of Kasturba Vidyalaya and a nine-month-old infant from the Sabar community.
The infected students have been identified as Priyanka Mahakud (Class X), Laxmi Tudu (Class VI) and Sukurmuni Bhumij (Class VIII). All three were admitted to the Community Health Centre (CHC) in Potka after developing high fever. Priyanka’s mother, Salma Mahakud, has also tested positive for the disease.
Due to their critical condition, M. Sabar, Minki Sabar and a nine-month-old infant from Pitidiri village have been referred to MGM Hospital in Jamshedpur for advanced treatment.
Meanwhile, Sampriya Singh and her daughter Kartik Singh of Chandpur village have also tested positive and are undergoing treatment. Medical care is also being provided to 12-year-old Amisha Bhumij of Gomiya Sai and 17-year-old Bhim Sardar of Serengdih.
With the outbreak spreading across the block, the Health Department has stepped up surveillance and awareness campaigns in the affected villages. A special health camp conducted in Sangram village screened 68 residents, and no new positive cases were detected during the exercise.
Dr. Rajni Mahakud, Medical Officer-in-Charge of CHC Potka, said medical teams are continuously conducting health camps, fever screening and mosquito control activities in vulnerable areas to prevent further spread of the disease.
Health officials have appealed to residents to strictly use mosquito nets while sleeping, eliminate stagnant water around their homes and immediately visit the nearest health centre if anyone develops fever or related symptoms.
