Eluru mystery illness: No common factor established

Eluru: West Godavari district collector Mutyala Raju said that 340 people were afflicted by the illness and they experienced epilepsy for three to five minutes for only one time. There is no repetition. They also experienced forgetfulness, anxiety, vomiting, headache and back pain.

In a statement here on Monday, he said already 168 people were discharged and 157 were undergoing treatment of which 14 persons were shifted to AIIMS for better treatment. One person died. The five persons who were treated in Aarogyasri network hospitals were also discharged.

Mutyala Raju said that 30 people from Eluru rural and three from Denduluru were also affected and 307 people from Eluru town, which means people from other areas, where municipal water is not distributed have also fallen ill. Moreover, only one or two persons in a household have fallen ill and not all of them. People who drink mineral water everyday have also got sick. The illness is not communicable and its intensity is low.

The collector stated that so far 22 freshwater samples were tested and the reports indicated normalcy and 52 blood samples were tested and found to be normal. Cell count of 35 cerebral spinal fluid samples were report normal and culture report is yet to be received. So far, 45 people had CT scans and results were normal. Nine milk samples were tested and the results are normal. Also,10 samples were sent to CCMB, Hyderabad, for cellular and molecular analysis and the result is yet to come.

Meanwhile, the officials are conducting household survey in which 62 village and ward secretariats are participating. The health surveys would also be conducted on 57,863 households.

Referring to the medical personnel, the collector said that 56 doctors, including specialists are treating victims and three microbiologists, 136 nurses, FNOs 117 and MNOs 99 are on duty. Twenty-five ambulances were deployed, 62 medical camps were set up which operated round-the-clock. Further, 445 beds were made available in four hospitals, including the government hospital in Eluru. The hospital supplied nutritious diet to all patients.

In addition to the beds at Eluru government hospital, 50 beds were allotted in Vijayawada GGH where 12 doctors, four ambulances, 36 nursing staff were monitoring the situation.