Eluru AP, Mysterious Illness: Nearly 300 Fall Ill, 1 Dead; Here's What We Know So Far

A mysterious illness has gripped Eluru in Andhra Pradesh. Hundreds have been rushed to the hospital while one died due to the disease.

Image (ANI)

New Delhi:  A mysterious disease has spread in Eluru city in Andhra Pradesh which has made over 200 people sick and claimed one life on Sunday. A report by PTI says that 292 people fell sick and so far more than 140 patients have returned home after treatment while the conditions of others have become stable. People had reportedly fallen unconscious after suffering symptoms such as fits and nausea. A 45-year-old man, who was admitted to the GGH in Eluru showed symptoms of nausea and epilepsy and died Sunday evening. While the cause for the disease is yet to be determined and the report says that most people who were sick recovered within a few minutes. Seven people were shifted to the Government General Hospital in Vijayawada on Sunday for better treatment. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy visited the Eluru government hospital today and met the patients. What we know so far

• People had reportedly suddenly fallen unconscious after suffering from symptoms of fits and nausea
• Tests of the Cerebral Spinal Fluid have turned out to be normal
• It was initially suspected that  contaminated water had caused the illness
• E-coli test results were also awaited
• Milk samples have been collected at random and sent for examination in Vijayawada
• The patients have so far tested negative for Covid-19
• Special teams of doctors have been rushed to Eluru to treat the victims and a house-to-house survey has been undertaken to identify prospective patients.
• BJP MP G V L Narasimha Rao has said in a report by PTI that poisonous organochlorine substances could be the most likely cause of the disease
• The opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) has blamed government apathy for the illness and has demanded an inquiry and declaration of health emergency in Eluru