Updated: December 6, 2020 9:20:35 pm
A young man receiving treatment at the Eluru Government Hospital. (Source: ANI)
At least 300 people, including several children, some as young as 4, have fallen ill in Eluru, in the West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh, since Saturday night. While officials initially suspected the cause was contaminated drinking water or air pollution, both were ruled out Sunday night. Health Minister A Kali Krishna Srinivas said blood samples and swabs have been sent for laboratory analysis, and reports are expected.
The opposition Telugu Desam party (TDP) has insisted that drinking water contamination caused people to get sick, although the government denies this. The head of the TDP and former CM N Chandrababu Naidu has demanded “an impartial and full investigation of the incident.”
With more than 250 people affected now, the situation in #Eluru It is getting worse. I demand a full and impartial investigation of the incident. Floods, cyclones or medical attention, the YSRCP government has been caught taking a nap in emergency situations. (1/3)
– N Chandrababu Naidu #StayHomeSaveLives (@ncbn) December 6, 2020
“We ruled out water or air pollution as the cause after officials visited the areas where people got sick. Water samples were submitted for analysis and no contamination was found. Blood samples from the patients were sent to laboratories. No viral infection has been detected. All patients are COVID-19 negative. It is a mysterious disease and only a laboratory analysis will reveal what it is, ”said Srinivas.
“All patients are out of danger. Of the 300 affected, about 125 have been discharged on Sunday night, “added the Minister of Health.
Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy will visit Eluru on Monday morning to assess the situation. Governor Biswa Bhusan Harichandan also expressed concern about the incident and asked the local administration about the condition of those admitted to hospitals.
The governor ordered officials from the medical and health departments to find out why such a large number of people suddenly fell ill and to take steps to prevent a recurrence.
The people who fell ill belong to various societies, such as Ashok Nagar and Arundhatipet, in the town of Eluru, where a case of contamination of drinking water was reported 10 days ago. Health Minister Srinivas said teams of doctors have been transferred from Vijayawada to help local doctors and also to investigate the cause of the disease. “Medical camps are being set up to treat patients. A door-to-door survey is being conducted to monitor their health, ”Srinivas said.
A medical officer at Eluru Government Hospital said patients complained of burning eyes.
“People who got sick, especially children, suddenly started vomiting after complaining of burning eyes. Some of them passed out or had seizures. Some were in critical condition when they were brought in on Saturday, but now all are safe, ”the medical officer said. More than 100 additional beds have been kept ready at the Eluru government hospital in case more patients are admitted. Five people were transferred to the government hospital in Vijayawada for better treatment.
District collector Mutyala Raju Revu said health officials began a door-to-door inspection of the affected areas to check for water contamination, as well as to identify affected people who did not go to hospitals for fear it was Covid. -19.
Meanwhile, the TDP has criticized the government for neglecting drinking water sources. “This is apathy from the AP government. Drinking water bodies have not been cleaned for 18 months. Eluru is the constituency of the Minister of Health and it is the YSRCP’s irresponsible government’s collective lack of awareness and inability to govern that has led to the incident, ”TDP chief Naidu said in a statement.
© The Indian Express (P) Ltd
.
