#Mystery illness frays India’s coronavirus nerves
“#Mystery illness frays India’s coronavirus nerves”
The government rushed medical experts to Eluru in Andhra Pradesh state to investigate the illness, which first appeared Saturday causing seizures, nausea and chronic pain.
Officials said nearly 500 people have been treated—with most swiftly recovering—but the death of a 45-year-old man at the weekend was attributed to the mystery disease.
India is already in grip of coronavirus with the world’s second-highest number of cases—and soon expected to pass 10 million.
“Some people are saying that it is mass hysteria but it is not,” said A.S. Ram, a senior doctor at Eluru government hospital.
He said most victims had suffered genuine symptoms, but “we are unable to diagnose what is causing it”.
Other officials pinpointed a possible role of chemical additives in pesticides, while residents have highlighted a problem with garbage and feral pigs.
They released a report on Monday which said symptoms included “epilepsy for 3-5 minutes, forgetfulness, anxiety, vomiting, headache and back pain.”
The government has sent doctors from the National Institute of Virology, National Centre for Disease Control and the All India Institute of Medical Sciences have been sent to investigate.
The team was collecting samples of edible oil, rice, blood and urine for analysis.
“Most of the patients are coming in with minor head injuries or a black eye as they collapsed suddenly with the seizure,” Ram said.
“But within one or two hours most of them are fine.”
Police constable Kiran Kumar—who collapsed while on duty Monday—said he had been left “scared” after being semi-conscious for more than two hours.
“My colleagues told me, I shouted something and collapsed. I injured my right shoulder due to falling on the road.”
According to district officials, the illness is not spread person-to-person.
They released a report on Monday which said symptoms included “epilepsy for 3-5 minutes, forgetfulness, anxiety, vomiting, headache and back pain”.
Four more doctors die from coronavirus in France: official
© 2020 AFP
Citation:
Mystery illness frays India’s coronavirus nerves (2020, December 8)
retrieved 8 December 2020
from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-12-mystery-illness-frays-india-coronavirus.html
This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no
part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.
If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on Google News too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.
For forums sites go to Forum.BuradaBiliyorum.Com
If you want to read more Like this articles, you can visit our Science category.
