A mystery fever claimed another victim on Sunday morning, pushing up the death toll from vector-borne diseases — confirmed or suspected — to 19 in the past four weeks.

Bapi Das, 28, a resident of Ganipur in Mahestala, died at Vidyasagar Hospital in Behala around 8.35am on Sunday. Doctors at the hospital said the symptoms were of malignant malaria.

Bapi used to work with a small bulb-manufacturing unit in the area but was jobless for the past three years.

He was running a temperature since Thursday. “He was vomiting and also complained of headache and body ache,” said his father Biswanath Das.

Bapi was initially treated by a local physician but when his condition deteriorated on Saturday he was admitted to Vidyasagar Hospital. His blood sample was sent for examination but the results are still awaited.

“He was desperately trying to get a job so that he could get his younger sister married,” said Dipa Das, Bapi’s mother.

The death triggered anger among residents who alleged that Mahestala municipality officials were doing nothing to control breeding of mosquitoes. “There has been no drive to spray mosquito repellents,” said Madhusudhan Hazra. “A number of people are suffering from fever.”

A municipal official claimed the “anti-larvae operation” had been intensified in all wards and a clean-up drive was also on.