A mysterious disease that began spreading in Eluru in Andhra Pradesh claimed one life on Sunday, while 292 others fell ill. More than 140 of the patients have returned home after treatment at the hospital, while the condition of others was stable, medical and health officials in the West Godavari district said.
It has not yet been established what caused the illness that caused people to suddenly lose consciousness after suffering symptoms of seizures and nausea. A 45-year-old man who was admitted to the government general hospital in Vijayawada on Sunday morning with symptoms of nausea and epilepsy died at night.
Most of the people recovered within minutes, but at least seven were taken to the government hospital on Sunday for better treatment. Special teams of doctors have been transferred to Eluru to treat the victims, while a house-to-house survey has been conducted to identify potential patients.
The state health commissioner, Katamaneni Bhaskar, also approached Eluru to take stock of the situation and monitor treatment. Expressing concern over the spread of the mysterious disease, Governor Biswabhusan Harichandan ordered health authorities to ensure adequate medical care for affected people.
Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy scheduled a visit to Eluru on Monday to visit patients at the GGH and then hold a review meeting with West Godavari district officials. Senior Deputy Minister (Health) AKK Srinivas (Nani), who represents Eluru, said tests established that water contamination was not the cause of the unknown disease.
Nani visited the hospital again on Sunday and reviewed the situation and said there was no need to panic. “Most of the victims have recovered and others are stable. We have prepared 50 beds at the GGH in Vijayawada to transfer patients, if necessary. Our medical teams are treating all patients,” said the senior deputy minister.
BJP MP GVL Narasimha Rao, who spoke with Chief Secretary of State Nilam Sawhney, said that a five-member team of AIIMS doctors in Mangalagiri was visiting Eluru to treat patients. Rao said he spoke with AIIMS, Delhi director Randeep Guleria and other experts on the mysterious disease and also made them speak to West Godavari district medical officials.
Poisonous organic substances could be the most likely cause of the disease, the deputy said after speaking with experts. TDP Secretary General Nara Lokesh also visited the hospital and spoke with the victims.
He blamed the negligence of the Jagan Mohan Reddy government for the outbreak of the disease, although it was initially suspected that water contamination caused it. Expressing anguish over the illness of 290 people, TDP President N Chandrababu Naidu demanded a full investigation into the outbreak of the disease and the declaration of a health emergency in the city of Eluru.
Meanwhile, health authorities have yet to establish the cause of the sudden illness, although blood tests and CT scans were performed. The probable cause could become apparent only after the culture test results were received. E-coli results were also expected, said joint collector Himanshu Shukla.
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