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BHUBANESWAR, India: Indian authorities are investigating whether organochlorines used as pesticides or in mosquito control caused the death of one person and the hospitalization of more than 400 in Andhra Pradesh in recent days, a health official said Tuesday ( December 8).
The unknown disease has infected more than 300 children, and most of them suffer from dizziness, fainting, headaches and vomiting. They have tested negative for COVID-19.
Federal legislator GVL Narasimha Rao, who is from the state, said on Twitter that he had spoken with government medical experts and that “the most likely cause is poisonous organochlorine substances.”
“It’s one of the possibilities,” said Geeta Prasadini, director of public health for the state of Andhra Pradesh, adding that they were awaiting test reports to determine the cause.
He said no new serious cases have come to light in the past 24 hours. A 45-year-old man died over the weekend.
Organochlorines are banned or restricted in many countries after research linked them to cancer and other potential health risks. However, some of the pollutants remain in the environment for years and accumulate in animal and human body fat.
It was not immediately clear how extensively the chemicals are used in India, although it is found in applied DDT for mosquito control.
Exposure to organochlorine pesticides for a short period can cause seizures, headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, tremors, confusion, muscle weakness, slurred speech, salivation and sweating, say US health authorities.
