One Dead, Over 350 Hospitalised Due to Unidentified Illness in Andhra’s Eluru
Image Courtesy: PTI
Hyderabad: One person died and about 350 others were hospitalised in the past three days as a ‘mysterious’ illness seems to be spreading in Eluru town in Andhra Pradesh’s West Godavari District. While the cause of the illness is yet to be ascertained, experts doubt some form of contamination could have resulted in the sudden illness.
“Doctors have ruled out commonly found viral, fungal and bacterial infections including COVID-19 as reasons behind the illness. Preliminary tests on water and food samples collected from the areas where the illness was identified were tested and found to be normal but more tests need to be conducted,” said Bhaskar Katamneni, Commissioner of Health and Family Welfare of Andhra Pradesh government.
He said experts from All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT), National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) and Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) are conducting tests to find out the cause of the illness.
The symptoms of illness include epilepsy, forgetfulness, anxiety, vomiting, headache and back pain. However, over 150 patients have recovered within hours, according to doctors at Government Hospital in Eluru.
Dr P K Sankaran of AIIMS Mangalagiri told reporters: “Various types of tests, including to check any poisoning of food or water, are being conducted and we will notify the results once these are out.”
Doctors identified the illness to be non-contagious. Cases have been identified in Eluru Urban, Eluru Rural and Denduluru.
“The discharged patients will be monitored for one month and will be provided a good diet,” said state minister Perni Nani.
Sridhar, 45, a resident of Vidyanagar Colony in Eluru was admitted in hospital with symptoms of nausea and epilepsy, and succumbed to the illness on Sunday evening.
As many as 14 patients, including children, pregnant women and elderly people, were reportedly shifted to government general hospital in Vijayawada for special care.
“It is a good sign that the patients are recovering quickly. Some form of metallic contamination could most probably be the cause,” said Doctor Rajendra Prasad of Osmania Medical Hospital.
Cerebral spinal fluid tests earlier conducted turned out to be normal. Doctors are awaiting culture test results which they believe may reveal the reasons for the illness.
Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister visited the government hospital to meet the patients undergoing treatment.
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