Sun, June 28, 2026
Jamshedpur: Three children have died from cerebral malaria in Jharkhand's East Singhbhum district over the past 48 hours, raising alarm over a sharp rise in infections in the Potka block. The outbreak has prompted the health department to launch an intensive surveillance and screening campaign across the affected villages.
More than 20 patients, many of them children, are currently undergoing treatment at Mahatma Gandhi Memorial (MGM) Medical College and Hospital in Jamshedpur. Several are reported to be in critical condition, while new cases continue to emerge.
With the onset of the monsoon, health officials have reported an unexpected spike in malaria and cerebral malaria cases across nine villages in Potka. District Surveillance Officer Dr Asad confirmed that the disease has claimed the lives of three children.
The deceased have been identified as Lakhkhi Sardar, a Class VII student of PM Shri Kasturba Gandhi Residential School, Rahul Sardar (8) of Daudrodia village, and Subola Sardar (8) of Kandar village.
Subola's one-year-old sister, Khushboo Sardar, has also contracted cerebral malaria and is currently on ventilator support in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) of MGM Hospital.
During recent medical screening drives, health teams detected more than 14 fresh cases, including three students from the Kasturba Gandhi Residential School and a nine-month-old infant from the Sabar tribal community. So far, over 600 residents have been screened through special health camps in the affected villages.
The district administration has also sealed a private clinic in Potka following allegations of negligence in the treatment of Lakhkhi Sardar. Preliminary findings suggest that despite showing symptoms of cerebral malaria, the child did not receive appropriate treatment. A show-cause notice has been issued to the clinic operator.
A high-level health department team inspected the Potka Community Health Centre and expressed concern over the shortage of essential resources. Officials have directed authorities to ensure the immediate availability of additional spray pumps, rapid diagnostic test (RDT) kits and life-saving medicines.
To contain the outbreak, the health department has launched a mass fever survey, door-to-door screening and mosquito-control measures across the affected areas.
Medical experts have urged residents to seek immediate treatment if they experience symptoms such as high fever, chills, severe headache, vomiting, unconsciousness or seizures. They have also advised people to use mosquito nets, wear full-sleeved clothing and prevent water from stagnating around their homes to reduce the risk of mosquito breeding.
With inputs from IANS
| 14-09-2018 | ||||||
| Sl No. | Parameters | Actual Data(µg/m3) | Standard Limit(µg/m3) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | PM 10 | 64 | 100 |
| 2 | PM 2.5 | 33 | 60 |
| 3 | SO2 | 55.3 | 80 |
| 4 | NO2 | 58.2 | 80 |
| 14-09-2018 | ||||||
| Station | Temperature(degree centigrade) | Rainfall(mm) | Relative humidity(%) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Max | Min | Past 24 hrs. | Since 1st March, 2018 | Max | Min | |
| Ranchi | 31.0 | 22.5 | 000.0 | 1010.1 | 95 | 66 |
| Jamshedpur | 34.1 | 26.2 | 000.0 | 1252.8 | 87 | 58 |
| Bokaro | 33.5 | 24.6 | 015.2 | 824.0 | 92 | 79 |
| Daltonganj | 32.6 | 24.9 | 004.2 | 960.9 | 95 | 67 |
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