The mysterious illness in Eluru so far killed one person and left more than 600 infected.
As per the direction of the Andhra Pradesh (A.P.,) Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, several teams of medical experts carried out analysis to find the reason behind the illness.
The experts found several abnormalities in the food that the victims consumed.
In regard to Eluru’s mysterious illness, the State Government officials and Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, conducted a video conference meeting with the medical experts.
The meeting was held in Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh.
Despite several analyses, the experts are yet to confirm the cause of the mysterious illness.
Highlights of the reports prepared by medical teams.
The All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) and the Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT) found lead and nickel in blood samples of the victims, but they didn’t find anything in the water.
The National Institute of Nutrition found traces of mercury in rice and pesticides and herbicide residues in excess quantities in vegetables.
It also found residues of Organophosphorus in blood, but did not confirm how they entered the humans.
A study of ambient air quality and water, conducted by the Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board, revealed no presence of heavy metal in water.
The Institute of Preventive Medicine, in its analysis, found no heavy metal in milk.
In addition, the medical experts are also investigating whether the excessive use of chlorine and bleaching powder in the Novel Coronavirus or COVID-19 sanitation programmes has led to the poisoning.
CM Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy asked the experts to test the drinking water samples repeatedly as a Vijayawada based private laboratory indicated that the drinking water supplied to areas like Gandhi Colony, Ramachandra Rao Peta, Pension Line Area and J P Colony contained high quantities of various pesticide residues, thousands of times more than the permissible limits.
The Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) Government concerned over the situation planned to educate local farmers on organic farming.
The State Government also constituted a 21 member multi disciplinary committee to study the mysterious illness of Eluru.
The committee would be headed by the Chief Secretary Neelam Sawhney.
The investigation and research regarding the unknown illness of Eluru is underway.
Stay tuned for further updates.
