Jamshedpur: With East Singhbhum reporting six malaria deaths so far, the district administration has launched a crackdown against unqualified practitioners, warning that treating fever without diagnostic tests could prove fatal.Civil surgeon Dr Sahir Pall told TOI that most of the deaths could have been prevented if patients reached govt health facilities on time instead of depending on quacks.“In almost all the cases, patients were first taken to local quacks who prescribed medicines without conducting a blood test. Valuable time was lost. Malaria is curable if diagnosed and treated early,” Pall said.The district administration is now looking beyond conventional measures. Pall said the health department plans to adopt Sri Lanka’s malaria surveillance model to make Potka, the district’s worst-affected block, malaria-free. The model emphasises rigorous surveillance, with every suspected malaria case tested through quality-assured microscopy or rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs), backed by continuous monitoring of mosquito breeding and prompt reporting of positive cases.Health officials said every person with fever — even if symptoms appear mild — should immediately visit the nearest govt health facility, where malaria testing is free. Blood tests and treatment are being provided at primary health centres, community health centres, Sadar Hospital and MGM Medical College and Hospital.The administration has also directed all private medical practitioners to strictly follow the govt’s malaria management protocol.“Any patient with fever must undergo a malaria blood test. Some patients remain asymptomatic in the initial stage, making testing crucial. Private laboratories have been instructed to immediately share every positive report with the govt through WhatsApp for real-time surveillance,” Pall added.The administration has warned quacks operating in rural and semi-urban areas to stop their practice or face criminal action. Office-bearers of the Indian Medical Association, Jamshedpur chapter, estimated that several hundred unregistered practitioners operate across East Singhbhum, particularly in remote villages where access to qualified doctors remains limited.The administration has simultaneously tightened accountability within the health system. Eleven govt doctors, along with several other health workers, have been suspended over alleged negligence.Deputy commissioner Rajiv Ranjan said more than 1,000 medicated mosquito nets have already been distributed through CSR initiatives, with more being procured. “Women receiving benefits under the Maiya Samman Yojana should consider purchasing mosquito nets to protect their families,” he said.The DC said civic bodies and TSUISL have been directed to clear stagnant water and intensify anti-larval operations across urban areas.This season’s staggered showers have created ideal pockets of water accumulation, increasing the risk of mosquito breeding. “Clean surroundings are everyone’s responsibility,” he said.