Bihar: At Least 39 Students Hospitalised After Consuming Filariasis Medicine In Arrah School

Around 39 students of a school in Bihar's Arrah were hospitalised after consuming filariasis medicines as part of a health campaign. They are said to be in a stable condition now.

Bihar: As many as 39 children fell ill in Bihar's Arrah after consuming filariasis medicines part of a health campaign organised in the school. They were admitted to Ara Sadar Hospital for medical treatment after they complained of headache, nausea, and fever after taking the medicine. The condition of the students is said to be stable.

A health department team had reached the Utkramit Madhya Vidyalaya Salempur at around 12 PM on Thursday to administer medicines for filariasis. Shortly after consuming the medicine, the health of the students began deteriorating, following which the school administration rushed them to the hospital.

On being informed about the incident the Civil Surgeon, hospital manager Shashikant, and Sadar Hospital Deputy Superintendent reached the emergency ward of the Hospital to inquire about the matter. Additionally, District Education Officer Ahsan also visited the Sadar Hospital to check on the children and inquire about their condition.

Civil Surgeon Shivendra Kumar Sinha told ABP News that under a programme to curb filariasis, medicines such as Albendazole and DEC were being given in the district. A programme was also held for this on August 27-29. He said that the programme had been underway since August 14 as part of which the team had been administering medicines door to door. They had decided to take a day off to take rest and had then give it to the students at the school. However, on the last day today the children fell sick after giving the medicine. He further said that they will investigate the matter.

A seventh grader student who fell ill after consuming the medicine recalled that the student's health began deteriorating after they were given three medicines. He said that he started having headache and fell ill. Another boy said that we were given three medicines, following which he developed a headache and fever.

Meanwhile, Arrah MP Sudama Prasad reached the emergency ward of Sadar Hospital to take stock of the situation and met the children and their families. He has demanded from the state government to probe why the children fell ill after consuming the medicine.