Ranchi: A rapid screening and treatment drive by the health department has helped contain a potential malaria outbreak in Telangadih, a remote village inhabited by the Birhor community, a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) in Khunti district.The village, located around 40 km from the district headquarters, has 52 residents belonging to 17 families. After the first malaria case was detected on July 3, health teams screened the entire population and began distributing anti-malarial medicines door to door.Ten villagers had tested positive as of Tuesday. Eight have recovered, while the two diagnosed on Tuesday are receiving medication and are under constant monitoring by health workers stationed in the village.“Ten villagers tested positive for malaria after the mass screening was launched. Eight have been cured, while the two who tested positive on Tuesday are under treatment and constant monitoring by health workers on the ground,” Birendra Kumar Singh, state programme officer and nodal officer for vector-borne diseases, told TOI.Singh said the swift response following the detection of the first case helped prevent further transmission. Health workers have also been conducting awareness campaigns and distributed medicated mosquito nets among residents on Tuesday.According to Singh, Telangadih reports malaria cases every year, but its remoteness makes preventive interventions difficult. “Members of the Birhor community have limited awareness of measures to prevent mosquito-borne diseases, as awareness campaigns often face hurdles in reaching the village,” he said.The department will conduct another round of malaria tests in Telangadih after a month to check for fresh transmission and assess the health of residents.The intervention comes amid a surge in malaria cases across Jharkhand since June. East Singhbhum district alone has reported six deaths.Earlier this month, additional chief secretary (health) Ajoy Kumar Singh directed all deputy commissioners to conduct surveys in areas reporting a high incidence of fever. In a letter, he also instructed district administrations to test every suspected malaria patient and begin anti-malarial treatment immediately for those found positive.
