At least 300 people, including several children, mysteriously fell ill in the town of Eluru, India, without authorities being able to explain the cause.
According to’Indian Express, hundreds of patients had to be admitted to hospital for ten days in the state of Andhra Pradesh. “People who get sick, especially children, would suddenly start vomiting and have burning eyes. Some have passed out or have had epileptic seizures, ”said an official at the government hospital in Eluru.
Far from fading, the crisis was growing on Sunday, with dozens of new patients identified from various neighborhoods. However, no patient died.
The health authorities first mentioned a possible contamination of the air or water in an attempt to explain the phenomenon, before changing their mind.
“We ruled out water contamination or air pollution after visiting places where people got sick. Water samples were tested and no contamination was found ”, assured the Minister of Health of Andhra Pradesh, Alla Kali Krishna Srinivas, according to statements relayed by theIndian Express.
“It is a mysterious disease and only a laboratory analysis will tell us what it is,” added the minister, adding that tests for COVID-19 have come back negative.
The chairman of the opposition Telegu Desam Party, however, believes the government is not telling the whole truth and considers the cases of illness to be linked to contaminated water.
“The Eluru Incident is just the tip of the Iceberg. Government neglect and the deterioration of the health system in the Andhra Pradesh region are at risk. It is a shame that the government cannot provide basic needs such as clean and safe portable water, ”Nara Chandrababu Naidu denounced on Twitter.