Jamshedpur, July 4 -- The fifth death due to cerebral malaria has been reported from Adityapur even as 64 new brain malaria patients were detected in testing of 1,223 samples in 25 villages under the Potka Block of East Singhbhum district in Jharkhand, officials said on Friday. The state health department has also issued a statewide alert in its directive to all the deputy commissioners across the state in view of spread of brain malaria in East Singhbhum district, particularly in Potka Block. Officials said at least 328 brain malaria patients had been identified in Potka Block alone of which four minor children have already died. "12-year-old Gudiya Das from Adityapur died of brain malaria during treatment at Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College Hospital. She was suffering from sickle cell anemia already," a health department officer said. An expert team from the Union health ministry has also reached Potka even as the state health secretary Ajay Kumar Singh directed all the DCs to undertake fever survey in areas where brain malaria patients are being detected. "We have cancelled the leaves of all health workers. Fogging drive will be carried out in 11 villages attached to the Potka community health centre where seven patients are currently undergoing treatment. Four of them are serious," Dr Sahir Pal, East Singhbhum civil surgeon, told HT on Friday. Meanwhile, people and patients were facing a harrowing time in Potka CHC with the 108 ambulance getting dysfunctional. "Prepare action plan and fix accountability at all levels. Undertake active survey with the help of multipurpose health workers, Sahiyas and ANMs in areas where more numbers of brain malaria patients are being detected. Make rapid diagnostic test kit and medicines to the sahiyas and MPWs and spray anti-larvae pesticides and germicides for vector control," the health secretary has written to the DCs....