New Delhi: From Saturday hundreds had fallen sick as a mysterious disease had gripped Eluru city in Andhra Pradesh. Over 200 people had fallen sick and one person died due to it. A special team of doctors had been rushed to Eluru to treat the victims and a house-to-house survey had been undertaken. Sample tests conducted to determine the cause has found a high presence of lead and nickel in blood and pesticide in drinking water. E-Coli in the water was also found to be normal.

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A report by PTI says that the AIIMS experts who conducted a preliminary examination of blood samples have found out that lead and nickel particulate matter could be the cause of the disease. Tests of the Cerebral Spinal Fluid have turned out to be normal

What are the symptoms?

According to the doctors the symptoms, include epilepsy for 3-5 minutes, memory loss for a few minutes, anxiety, vomiting, headache, and back pain. On Sunday, A 45-year-old man, who was admitted to the GGH in Eluru died after showing symptoms of nausea and epilepsy. Most people who were sick recovered within a few minutes.

Finding the cause

A team from AIIMS, New Delhi is looking at how the heavy metals found their way by checking water and food samples. Stool and bile samples of the victims have been sent for a viral and bacteriological analysis to the Hyderabad-based Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology. A nine-member team of the National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad visited Eluru to conduct tests.

"We had collected blood & urine samples of patients. Now we're collecting samples of water, milk and vegetables," said JJ Babu, a scientist in a tweet by ANI.

Blood serum samples were sent to the Indian Institute of Chemical Technology for chemical analysis. The results are still being awaited. "Full details as to what triggered the mysterious disease will be known only after the central agencies submit their reports. Primarily, lead has been found to be the cause of the outbreak," said Deputy Chief Minister (Health) A K K Srinivas.

So far the report says 561 people have fallen sick in Eluru. 450 have recovered and another 81 were being treated in the hospital. The cases have come down and on Tuesday only 73 new cases were reported.