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Filth lies unattended at Bagbera on Saturday. Picture by Bhola Prasad
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Jamshedpur, Aug 18: Four malaria positive cases were today detected at Kol Basti in Harharguttu area of Bagbera, where the deaths of two contract workers in the previous 48 hours had raised fears of a mysterious outbreak.
The four cases were identified during a blood testing camp held by district malaria officer L.B.P. Singh at Somai Jhopri area near Kol Basti.
“They were initially sent as cerebral malaria cases based on the rapid diagnostic tests. But after confirmatory tests done at MGM Medical College and Hospital at Sakchi, it was found, much to our relief, that they were normal malaria cases,” said Singh.
This took the number of malaria cases to six, after two were reported the tribal locality, situated 15km from the city, until yesterday.
The four persons — Gora Purty, Chota Purty, Sunil Gagrai and Mata Birua — all youths in the age group of 25 to 30 are undergoing treatment at MGM Medical College and Hospital and are said to be stable.
An alarmed district health department ordered starting two health centres in Bagbera at Road No. 1 and CP Tola.
“Around 64 persons suffering from fever and other ailments were treated at the camp and given medicines and ORS (oral rehydration solution) dose. None were suffering from diarrhoea during the check-up. However, we are conducting blood tests to get confirmatory results for malaria. The health centres and blood testing drive will be in place for at least a week in the area,” said district civil surgeon Jagat Bhusan Prasad.
The multi-purpose health workers of the area have also been asked by the district malaria department to spread awareness on vector-borne diseases and ask them to wipe out trash and stagnant water around habitations.
The cellphone numbers of the workers have also been circulated in the area so that they can be contacted in case of any suspected malaria cases.
The malaria department sprayed larvicides in the area.
Protests lodged by the Bagbera Mahanagar Vikas Samiti before the district administration paid dividends with the authorities asking Jusco to resume water supply through tankers in the region.
“I met the Jusco general manager (town services) Dhananjay Mishra, who said that six tankers of water would be supplying water in the Bagbera locality from tomorrow morning. This will help in curbing spread of waterborne diseases, as people use water from lakes and ponds for drinking,” said samiti convener Subodh Jha.
Jusco has also promised to help supply bleaching powder and a fogging machine for spraying mosquito repellents from tomorrow.
Meanwhile, the blood reports of 15 seriously ill contract workers showing symptoms akin to the two deceased at Kol Basti confirmed they were suffering from food poisoning.
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