At least one person died and around 500 people have fallen sick since a new mysterious illness was first reported in the 1-Town area in Eluru city of Andhra Pradesh on Saturday.
What Are the Symptoms?
Initially, as people began complaining of symptoms resembling an epileptic seizure, Indian authorities suspected that this may be caused by a contaminated local body of water. Later on, the illness spread to the adjoining rural parts of Eluru and Denduluru, although the number of affected there was far less.
Authorities found that all patients have symptoms which include epilepsy, forgetfulness, anxiety, nausea, headache and back pain.
Given the pandemic situation, everyone who fell ill was tested for сoronavirus, and all the results came back negative.
What Could've Caused the Outbreak?
Besides water contamination, there's also a suspicion that anti-mosquito fogging may have caused the disease. Doctors from top medical institutions have conducted blood tests and CT (brain) scans along with Cerebral Spinal Fluid tests on patients, which have so far turned up normal, making the disease a mystery.
Other tests, conducted by experts from All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), however, revealed the presence of lead and nickel metals in excessive quantities in patients.
The report contradicts a statement by local authorities which ruled out water and air pollution as possible culprits for the illness. Another team of scientists from the National Institute of Chemical Technology, National Institute of Nutrition and the Indian Institute of Chemical Technology have started field-level studies in Eluru to reveal the exact reasons for the disease.
Pesticides?
Officials are now also exploring the possible overuse of pesticides on vegetables in the area.
"We are collecting vegetable samples from top 20 places. Cases are being reported throughout the entire Municipal Corporation area", Himanshu Shukla, West Godavari Joint District Collector told IANS.
Preliminary analysis of various test reports has established the role of organochlorine substances, which are used in agriculture and mosquito fogging.