1 dead, 350 in hospital in Andhra Pradesh as mystery illness hits Eluru

Mangalore Today News Network

Eluru, Dec 07, 2020:   Over 350 have fallen sick ill one dead following a mysterious illness in Eluru city of Andhra Pradesh. As many as 76 people have been moved to a hospital since Sunday night, taking the number of sick to over 350.

 

So far, 186 have been discharged from the hospital while 164 are still under treatment, officials said.

A 45-year-old man, who was admitted to the GGH in Eluru this morning with symptoms of nausea and epilepsy, had died on Sunday evening.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy will leave for Eluru on Monday and visit the hospital where the sick have been admitted. The Andhra CM will also hold a meeting with district officials.

In wake of the situation, the administration has declared a holiday in educational institutions across Eluru. A 24x7 control room has been set up in the Eluru Municipal Corporation office. Milk samples also collected at random and sent for examination in Vijayawada.

A team of doctors from AIIMS Mangalgiri, scientists of National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad and Indian Institute of Chemical Technology have been sent to Eluru to ascertain the source of illness.

Nothing has yet been established as to what caused the disease that saw people suddenly falling unconscious after suffering from symptoms of fits and nausea.

Health authorities could not yet establish the cause of the sudden disease though blood tests and CT (brain) scan were performed. Cerebral Spinal Fluid tests also turned out to be normal. The probable cause could become evident only after the culture test results came in.

According to district Joint Collector Himanshu Shukla, E-coli results were also awaited.

Water contamination not the cause: Andhra Deputy CM

Deputy Chief Minister (Health) A K K Srinivas (Nani), who represents Eluru, said tests established that water contamination was not the cause of the mysterious disease. Nani visited the hospital again on Sunday and took stock of the situation and said there was no need to panic.

"Most of the victims have recovered and others are stable. We have readied 50 beds in the GGH in Vijayawada to shift patients if required. Our medical teams are attending to every patient," the Deputy Chief Minister said.

Centre assures of support

Union Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy on Sunday spoke with AP Chief Secretary Nilam Sawhney over the phone and enquired about the situation and said the Centre was ready to extend any possible help.

Expressing concern over the spread of the mysterious disease, Andhra Governor Biswabhusan Harichandan directed the health authorities to ensure proper medicare to the afflicted persons.

Courtesy:India Today