01/5'Mystery Illness' takes over Andhra Pradesh's Eluru

'Mystery Illness' takes over Andhra Pradesh's Eluru

In a recent report, many people from Andhra Pradesh's Eluru city have come down with a strange illness - the cause of which is still unknown. One person has already died and over 300 have been hospitalized.

While the cause of the disease and its whereabouts are yet to be established, authorities had suspected it to be a possible water contamination. However, the claims were denied by Deputy Chief Minister (Health) AKK Srinivas (Nani), Eluru's representative.

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02/5What is this mysterious illness?

What is this mysterious illness?

The mysterious illness took over the Eluru town of Andhra Pradesh's West Godavari district on Saturday. Initially, around 45 people from four different Eluru localities started developing various symptoms - the causes of which were not clear to the health officials. As per reports, 140 people were admitted to the Eluru Government Hospital and were discharged after treatment.

Local authorities have ruled out water and food contamination as possible causes for the disease. That said, in a bid to establish the origin of the strange illness, they have called upon an expert team from AIIMS, Delhi.

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03/5What symptoms are people experiencing?

What symptoms are people experiencing?

According to reports, people suffering with this mysterious ailment have been falling unconscious after experiencing nausea, dizziness, a series of fits and seizures and frothing around the mouth. Some have also been experiencing bone dislocations and muscular pains, as per official reports. The patient who had died was being treated at the Eluru government, even after which the local health authorities could not identify the reason for the illness.

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04/5Does this illness resemble any other disease?

Does this illness resemble any other disease?

While little is known about the origin of the mysterious illness, its symptoms have shown a potential likeness to that of epilepsy. Epileptic symptoms consist of uncontrollable jerking movements of the arms and legs, unconsciousness and frothing around the mouth. Similar signs have been established in people who have been diagnosed with this strange disease. However, nothing has been confirmed by the health authorities.

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05/5What are authorities saying?

What are authorities saying?

When asked about the cause of the disease, Deputy Chief Minister of Health, AKK Srinivas (Nani) in an interview said, "We ruled out water contamination or air pollution as the cause after officials visited the areas where people fell sick. Water samples were sent for testing and no contamination was found. Blood samples of the patients have been sent to labs. No viral infection has been detected. All the patients are COVID-19 negative. It is some mystery illness and only lab analysis will reveal what it is.”

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Jagan Mohan Reddy is scheduled to visit Eluru today to meet the patients being treated at the local hospital. Reportedly, he will later hold a review meeting with the West Godavari district officials.

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