Jharkhand: Brain malaria claims three children in East Singhbhum’s Potka
Jamshedpur, June 27: A deadly outbreak of cerebral (brain) malaria has claimed the lives of three schoolchildren within 48 hours in Potka…
Jamshedpur, June 27: A deadly outbreak of cerebral (brain) malaria has claimed the lives of three schoolchildren within 48 hours in Potka block of East Singhbhum district, prompting the Jharkhand health department to intensify surveillance, treatment and mosquito-control measures in the affected villages.
The latest victim, eight-year-old Subola Sardar of Kandar village, died on Friday, a day after two other children—Lakhi Sardar, a Class VII student of PM-SHRI Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV), Potka, and Rahul Sardar, 8, of Daurdodiya village—succumbed to the disease.
Subola’s one-year-old sister, Khushbu Sardar, remains in critical condition and is undergoing treatment at Tara Seva Sadan in Hata.
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Nine new cerebral malaria cases reported
The situation has become more serious with the detection of nine fresh cases of cerebral malaria on Friday.
Among those infected are three students of Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV)—Priyanka Mahakud (Class X), Laxmi Tudu (Class VI) and Sukurmuni Bhumij (Class VIII)—who were admitted to the Potka Community Health Centre after developing high fever.
Priyanka Mahakud’s mother, Salma Mahakud, has also tested positive for malaria.
Several critically ill patients, including M. Sabar, Minki Sabar and a nine-month-old infant from Pitidiri village, have been referred to MGM Hospital in Jamshedpur for advanced treatment.
Others undergoing treatment include Sampriya Singh and her daughter Kartik Singh of Chandpur village, Amisha Bhumij, 12, of Gomiya Sai, and Bhim Sardar, 17, of Serengdih.
Health department launches emergency response
The health department has intensified its response by conducting door-to-door surveillance, fever screening, mosquito-control drives and public awareness campaigns across the affected villages.
A special health camp organised in Sangram village screened 68 residents, with no fresh positive cases detected.
“We are conducting continuous health camps, active surveillance and mosquito-control measures in vulnerable villages to prevent further spread of the disease,” said Dr Rajni Mahakud, Medical Officer-in-Charge of Community Health Centre, Potka.
Residents urged to seek early treatment
Health authorities have appealed to residents to use mosquito nets, eliminate stagnant water around their homes and seek immediate medical attention if they develop fever or related symptoms.
The recent deaths have triggered concern among villagers, particularly parents, even as officials said every effort is being made to contain the outbreak and ensure timely treatment for those affected.
