One dead and 400 more in hospitals

One man died and more than 400 are being treated in hospitals in South India due to an unknown infection that has caused many to lose consciousness, have spasms and nausea, a senior Health Ministry official said today.

The government and health authorities in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh said more than 200 people had been discharged over the weekend and that tests had ruled out Covid-19. Additional serological tests are performed.

“The causes of the outbreak are not yet known,” the local government said in a statement, adding that people of all ages appear to be prone to infection.

At the same time, the federal Ministry of Health announced today that it will send a team of three medical specialists to investigate the infection, which has infected more than 300 children.

“The children are reportedly suffering from dizziness, fainting, headaches and vomiting,” the ministry said, adding that a door-to-door investigation was underway.

Andhra Pradesh’s Ministry of Health was informed of the first incident over the weekend, after the death of a 45-year-old man, said Gita Prasantini, the state’s director of public health.

“We take blood samples from patients for serological and bacterial tests to rule out any type of meningitis,” Prasadini told Reuters.

Authorities are examining the water supply network in 20 points in the town of Elouros, where the first reports of contamination were made, as well as in neighboring cities.