Mystery illness strikes Eluru: 300 fall sick

Eluru: The Government Hospital in Eluru has been grappling with a mysterious illness which has so far affected nearly 300 people. Since Saturday evening, several people with symptoms like nausea and foam oozing from mouth have been admitted to the hospital.

A 45-year-old man Sridhar died on Sunday evening. While patients' relatives alleged that he died due negligence of doctors, the hospital authorities said that he was suffering from other ailments.

With no clue as to what is causing such symptoms, the doctors are left baffled. Over 140 of them have been discharged so far after treatment. According to doctors, the symptoms persist for 10 to 15 minutes. Initially, it was thought that the illness was due to contaminated water. But water samples which were tested locally indicate that it was fit for consumption. However, for a detailed study water and even milk samples have been sent to Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam and AP Pollution Control Board to test if there was any presence of toxins.

The doctors said that they had also obtained fluid samples from the backbone of the patients. A special team of IMA Hyderabad and AIIMS in Mangalagiri have rushed to Eluru. Health workers have started taking up house-to-house survey. The possibility of air pollution is also not ruled out.

On the other hand, District Collector Mutyala Raju held an emergency meeting and asked the health authorities to make arrangements to shift patients to Vijayawada if necessary for better treatment. He said CT scan reports of the victims were normal.

Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy will be visiting Eluru Government Hospital on Monday to take stock of the situation. Health Minister Alla Srinivas visited the hospital and reviewed the situation.

Most of those who were affected with this strange illness are from Padamara Veedhi, Dakshina Veedhi, Kothapeta, Gun Bazar, Ashok Nagar, Sanivarapupeta, Tangella Mudi and other colonies. According to Government hospital doctors, blood reports of the patients are normal and patients were found Covid-19 negative. It could even be an unknown viral infection, the doctors say.

Many of the patients have been feeling distressed as they don't remember what happened to them for which psychiatrists and psychologists have also been roped in.