Jamshedpur: A five-member central team on Saturday visited East Singhbhum district’s Potka block, which reported a surge in malaria cases over the past 10 days.The team, led by Dr Ravishankar, director of the National Vector-Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP), visited the Sadar hospital in Khasmahal, Potka community health centre (CHC), and the villages of Hitbasa, Kandar and Sangram to assess the ground situation. The central team is expected to visit other affected blocks on Sunday.During the visit, the team interacted with residents in malaria-affected villages and enquired about the pace of daily testing and the distribution of medicines. They also visited households to check the availability and use of mosquito nets.“The team members were dissatisfied with the current level of medical care and instructed district health officials to step up testing,” said an official who accompanied the team.A five-member health department team, led by state malaria officer Dr Birendra Singh, accompanied the central team.The district reported 219 malaria cases on Saturday, including 163 cases caused by Plasmodium falciparum and 52 by Plasmodium vivax, from 5,251 tests.Civil surgeon Dr Sahir Pall said, “Cerebral malaria is a specific and severe complication of Plasmodium falciparum infection.”He said that between June 29 and Saturday, a total of 18,123 malaria tests were conducted, detecting 1,036 cases. During the period, five patients infected with Plasmodium falciparum died due to complications.The district administration has intensified its fight against malaria by launching a comprehensive campaign focusing on prevention, early diagnosis, prompt treatment and public awareness under the direction of deputy commissioner Rajiv Ranjan.As part of the drive, sahiyas conducted door-to-door surveys covering 17,741 households in affected villages, educating residents about preventive measures and encouraging those with symptoms to seek immediate medical attention.Public awareness campaigns are also being carried out through street plays, hoardings, banners, posters and handbills in vulnerable villages and other high-risk areas.Additionally, a special surveillance drive has been undertaken in 54 villages along the borders of Potka, Dumaria, Golmuri, Jugsalai and Musaboni blocks.