Daltonganj: A two-week night blood collection survey for filariasis detection will begin at 10 pm on Monday in Palamu district, civil surgeon Dr Anil Kumar Sriwastwa said.The state health department has fixed a 10-day schedule from July 6 to July 16. However, Palamu will extend the exercise by four days, from the night of July 6 to the night of July 20, he said.Officials said the extended window will help teams complete fieldwork despite village-level constraints and ensure coverage of the selected sites across the district properly. Asked why collection will start at 10 pm, Sriwastwa said, “It’s optimal blood collection time. It lasts upto 2 am.”Medical sources said the timing has a scientific basis because filaria parasites circulate in the blood at night and show nocturnal periodicity.On the risks of late-night visits in villages, Sriwastwa said, “It’s really a delicate situation. We have asked our medical officers of the community health centres and health sub centres to inform the residents beforehand about the night blood survey so that no confusion or misunderstanding erupts.”Each five-member survey team has been issued an identity card, and local elites have been urged to cooperate during the late-night exercise. A total of 50 teams will cover 30 villages. Each team has been given a torch to help ward off barking dogs, sources said. A team member said village dogs remain a nuisance day and night and scare them the most.The survey will cover persons aged 20 years and above. Palamu has 1,800 active filariasis patients, all lymphatic filariasis cases, Sriwastwa said. Blood will be collected through finger prick, with 900 collections targeted.
