A mysterious illness in India: 300 hospitalized

In the city of Eluru, in India's southeastern state of Andhra Pradesh, 300 people were hospitalized over the weekend for an illness that has not yet been identified.



A mysterious outbreak of the disease emerged over the weekend in the country's southeastern state of Andhra Pradesh is the coronavirus ramped up its impact in India, the world's second-most populous country…

Hundreds of people were admitted to the hospital with an unspecified condition, while patients were described as suffering from nausea, loss of consciousness, and eye burns. Hospital applicants were tested for the coronavirus and all came back negative.

Authorities said they had launched an investigation into the discovery of the disease. “After those who came to the hospital saying they were not feeling well, especially children, reported burning in their eyes, they suddenly started vomiting and some of them trembled and went into crisis,” an official from Eluru State Hospital told the Indian Express newspaper.


AIR AND WATER SUSPECTED, BUT…


Most of those who arrived at the hospital was later discharged. Officials said they initially suspected that the complaints were caused by mains water or air pollution, but initial investigations revealed that the cause of the disease was not from these two factors.

Kali Krishna Srivinas, Health Minister of Andhra Pradesh state, announced that blood samples were taken from patients and sent to the laboratory. "After the examination of the authorities in the areas where the people who were admitted to the hospital lived, we eliminated factors such as contamination of mains water and air pollution. This is a mysterious disease and we will be able to understand after a laboratory examination why it was caused,” he said.

The opposition Telugu Desam Party has demanded an investigation into the incident, suggesting the mains water may have been contaminated.