Ranchi: The health department on Wednesday directed all district administrations to be on alert and ensure immediate and comprehensive measures to prevent and control malaria cases.The directive came after four cerebral malaria deaths were reported in East Singhbhum district’s Potka block in the past few days.Additional chief secretary (health) Ajoy Kumar Singh, in a letter to all deputy commissioners, directed them to conduct surveys in areas with high fever cases and ensure testing of every suspected malaria case and initiate anti-malarial treatment immediately if they are found positive.“Even if a single case gets detected in any area, a mandatory mass fever survey has to be conducted in the locality. Apart (from this), village-wise malaria data has to be compiled in the districts, and community health workers in highly affected villages must be provided with rapid diagnostic test kits and essential anti-malarial medicines,” the letter stated.Medical officers were also directed to conduct weekly review meetings at community health centres and submit reports to district headquarters. “District civil surgeons are directed to conduct review meetings with medical officers fortnightly, while DCs must hold monthly review meetings with civil surgeons and other health officials to monitor the situation,” Singh said.The letter further directed DCs to ensure availability of malaria test kits, anti-malarial medicines and other essential items at CHCs.Jharkhand recorded 12,342 malaria cases between Jan and May. Health department data shows that while the state recorded 8,034 malaria cases from Jan to April, the caseload surged by 4,308 cases in May alone.West Singhbhum, East Singhbhum, Godda, Seraikela-Kharsawan and Khunti districts contributed a significant share of the malaria cases.West Singhbhum reported 4,891 cases till May compared with 3,590 in April, followed by East Singhbhum, which recorded 4,822 cases till May, compared with 2,820 in April. Godda jumped to 874 cases in May compared with 553 till April.