Why it is in the news
An investigation by the Centre's National Joint Outbreak Response Team (NJORT) into the deaths of about 32 tribal children (aged 1–13) since June 2026 in the Baiga-dominated villages of Birsa block, Balaghat district, Madhya Pradesh found a “mixed febrile illness cluster” — measles alongside malaria, with smaller numbers of dengue, chikungunya and enterovirus infections — rather than a single disease, as reported by The Indian Express on 9 October 2026.
The exam angle
Issue: Why do child deaths from preventable diseases recur in PVTG habitations despite dedicated missions, and what would a surveillance system that sees them early look like?