Munger, Aug. 8: Cerebral malaria has been reported among tribals in Haveli Kharagpur and Dharhara blocks of Munger district for a month now.

Just in July, around 1,300 tribal patients underwent blood tests for the disease. Around 300 tested positive for cerebral malaria and others from malaria. All of them were diagnosed and treated either at their homes or at government-run primary health centres (PHCs) in Haveli Kharagpur and Dharhara. They were discharged after treatment. There were reports of two deaths but none could be confirmed and the authorities denied there were any.

Tribal villages that saw an outbreak of cerebral malaria in July include Bhimbandh, Sonakha, Permanandpur, Basudeopur, Gangta, Tapahi, Baghela, Rajasarai, Kandani, Titpaniya, Sarodin, Chhoti Madhuwan, Tilwaria, Rampur (in Haveli Kharagapur block) and Aazimganj, Mathura, Tara, Pasraha (in Dharhara block).

Munger chief medical officer Rameshwar P. Mahto said today: "Between July 20 and July 30, the situation was alarming in two blocks of Munger. About 35 to 40 tribals were being admitted everyday with symptoms of cerebral malaria at Haveli Kharagpur primary health centre. The PHC doctors and paramedical staff had a tough time treating cerebral patients in such large numbers everyday. But, all patients were diagnosed, treated and discharged."

Akhilesh Kumar, in-charge of Haveli Kharagapur primary health centre, said: "We used around 1,300 malaria kits at PHCs and tribal homes to diagnose patients suffering . In a month, around 280 tribal men, women and children were diagnosed with cerebral malaria and treated. The rest were suffering from common malaria. Now, 2-3 suspected cases turn up everyday."

Akhilesh said: "Two teams, comprising medical officers and technical experts visited the affected tribal villages and conducted blood tests on the patients at their homes."

Raj Kumar Mandal, acting in-charge of Dharhara PHC, said: "After blood tests, around 20 tribals were diagnosed with symptoms of cerebral malaria. All were treated at the PHC."

Most of the patients had complained of high fever, headache, chill, sweating, fatigue, nausea and vomiting.

Annu Kumari (15), a tribal from Gututa Banhara village under Haveli Kharagapur block, who is being treated at Kharagpur PHC, said over phone: "I had cerebral malaria. My blood test was carried out immediately and I have been treated now."

Annu Kumari, a matriculation student, said: "My village, Gututu Banhara, is infested with mosquitoes. I pray to the government to take measures to combat the menace to prevent recurrence of cerebral malaria."

District malaria officer Jawahar P Singh, said: "Cases of malaria have been reported from two blocks of Munger district. But the situation is under control. It is not alarming."

Sunita Devi (25), wife of Manoj Marandi of Kandani village in Kharagapur block, who underwent treatment at Munger Sadar Hospital, said: "My village is under attack from malaria every year."