What’s Wrong In Eluru?

At least 345 people, including children, were hospitalised after they suffered from an unknown disease and began showing symptoms of epilepsy in Eluru, West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh.

One of them, a 45-year-old man, admitted in Vijayawada hospital with symptoms of nausea and epilepsy died and over 150 people were discharged after they were found to have recovered from the temporary illness. Over nine others were shifted to hospitals in Vijayawada and Guntur and 60 people are still undergoing treatment in private hospitals. The patients complained of giddiness and epilepsy.

Many of them fainted suddenly with froth emanating from their mouth while several others complained of shivering, convulsions and mild headache. Blood samples were also sent to laboratories but no viral infection was found. All the affected tested negative for Coronavirus.

The situation is said to be under control but the authorities are perplexed over what led to the sickness. Surprisingly, the victims were neither related nor did they attend any function together.  

While psychiatrists say mass hysteria led to the illness, AIIMS officials blame neurotoxins for hospitalisation. The report of the culture test of water samples is expected to be out today. Experts from National Institute of Nutrition and National Institute of Chemical Technology are expected to visit the town soon. A doctor team from AIIMS-Mangalagiri is also expected to reach Eluru to take stock of the situation.

Meanwhile, the Pollution Control Board said that air pollution could have led to the mysterious illness that affected a large number of people. Air quality testing machines were placed in several places in the town.

On information, Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy began monitoring the situation personally and ensured that special medical camps were set up in the town to treat the affected. Jagan personally visited the victims and inquired about their well being. He assured them that government would standby them.

Earlier, Health minister Alla Krishna Srinivas too visited the government hospital in Eluru where some patients were undergoing treatment and enquired about the situation.

TDP supremo and Opposition leader N. Chandrababu Naidu said that the mysterious disease was caused by water contamination and demanded an impartial inquiry into the incident. The affected people belong to Ashok Nagar and Arundhatipet in Eluru.

Andhra Pradesh Governor Biswa Bhushan Harichandran also expressed concern over the situation in Eluru, adding that he has directed officials to expeditiously provide medical treatment to affected persons and to find out the reason behind people falling ill.

A door-to-door survey has also been taken up in the town to identify unreported cases. Also, 108 emergency vehicles have been kept on standby. Health authorities could not establish the cause of the sudden disease yet, though blood tests and CT scans were performed on the patients.