Jamshedpur: The health department has launched a large-scale malaria screening drive in residential schools and affected villages in West Singhbhum district after more than 100 cases were detected among students.Civil surgeon Dr Jujhar Majhi confirmed that all residential school patients are asymptomatic. “The students probably contracted malaria about a week ago. Since they are asymptomatic, there is nothing to worry about as of now,” he said.He added that anti-malarial medicines have been distributed to infected students, who are being monitored regularly. More than 100 asymptomatic cases were detected after 3,500 students were screened in 35 residential schools between June 27 and July 5.Majhi said the district has 35 residential schools, including a Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya in each block. Since Monday, two doctors have been visiting the schools daily to monitor the situation.Around 12,000 people have been screened so far. From Wednesday, the department plans to conduct more than 7,000 screenings daily in 86 vulnerable villages across Goilkera, Manoharpur, Tonto, Sonua, Badajamda and Jhinkpani blocks.Majhi said an average of 15 to 20 active malaria cases are being detected every day in these villages.Asked about the total number of malaria cases reported so far this year, he declined to disclose the figure.West Singhbhum reported around 17,000 malaria cases in 2025, down from about 21,000 the previous year.Neighbouring East Singhbhum has reported 1,036 malaria cases and 5 deaths between June 29 and July 5, with the district administration on Monday rolling out a comprehensive action plan, including conducting 1 lakh tests at the earliest to identify patients and ensure timely treatment, to curb the spread of the disease.The health department has conducted 22,287 malaria tests in East Singhbhum during the period. The remaining 77,713 tests would be carried out on a mission mode at the earliest, officials said.
