AT least one person has died and hundreds have been hospitalised by a mystery illness in southern India.
Doctors said patients’ symptoms have included vomiting, seizures, and a burning sensation in their eyes.
The illness hit residents of the town of Eluru in the state of Andhra Pradesh over the weekend, the BBC reports.
It comes as India continues to battle the second-largest outbreak of coronavirus in the world, with 9.7million cases confirmed so far.
With over 800,000 cases, Andhra Pradesh is currently the country’s third-worst-hit state.
Investigations to determine the cause of the new illness are ongoing, but officials say it does not appear to be related.
State health minister Alla Kali Krishna Srinivas confirmed that all patients had tested negative for coronavirus.
Around 300 people have been hospitalised so far, with around 125 of those subsequently discharged.
Speaking to the Indian Express, a medical officer at the Eluru Government Hospital said: “The people who fell sick, especially the children, suddenly started vomiting after complaining of burning eyes.
“Some of them fainted or suffered bouts of seizures.
“Some were in critical condition when they were brought in on Saturday, but now all of them are safe.”
Specialist teams are now being dispatched to Eluru to help with diagnostic efforts.
Blood samples drawn from the patients have reportedly not confirmed any viral infection.
Srinivas said that officials had visited the areas where people had fallen ill and that water contamination and air pollution had been ruled out as possible causes.
He also said that a door-to-door survey is being conducted to monitor people’s health.
“It is some mystery illness and only lab analysis will reveal what it is,” he said.
But N Chandrababu Naidu, president of opposition party Telugu Desam Party, said that “water contamination” was to blame for the incident and demanded a full inquiry.
“The [ruling Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party] has been caught napping in emergency situations,” he wrote on twitter.
“The Govt’s negligence & the deterioration of healthcare services across Andhra Pradesh stands exposed today.
“It’s a shame for any Govt if it can’t provide basic necessities like safe & clean drinking water to our people.”
