East S’bhum health dept conducts drive to curb brain malaria at Musaboni

Jamshedpur: The East Singhbhum district health department on Saturday launched a drive to curb the spread of malaria and brain (cerebral) malaria, a severe case of malaria in which the infection spreads to the brain, at Suryabera village of the Musaboni block, civil surgeon Dr Jujhar Manjhi said.
The rural area had reported 20 malaria cases, including 17 of brain malaria, on Friday.
The four-member team from the state department of health, medical education and family welfare that visited the malaria-hit village on Friday directed the local health officials to take steps to stop the outbreak.
Among the measures taken so far is the distribution of mosquito nets among the villagers. Sprinkling of bleaching powder, spraying anti-larvae medicines and fogging in the affected village and adjoining areas are also underway. Besides, cleaning would be carried out in and around the village, Dr Manjhi added.
Twenty persons belonging to 203 families residing in the village are suffering from malaria, including brain malaria. Hence, officials need to take prompt measures to address the issue, state programme officer Dr Birendra Singh told the district malaria officials.
A health team from the district health department will visit the village every alternate day to conduct health camps to identify the malaria patients, if any, for timely medical attention.
Meanwhile, no fresh case of brain malaria has been detected after Friday, the civil surgeon said. All persons suffering from brain malaria fever are safe and are recovering fast, he added.
A week ago, 10 malaria cases were detected at Suryabera. They received treatment at the Musaboni block hospital.