Lead, nickel found in samples collected from Eluru, says AIIMS report

Lab samples have revealed the presence of lead and nickel in drinking water and milk as the root cause of the mysterious illness that has swept Eluru in Andhra Pradesh’s West Godavari district.

Other details about the samples are also expected to emerge in the coming hours as the Hyderabad- based Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT) is also conducting tests on samples collected from Eluru.

The disease has claimed one life so far and more than 500 locals are being treated at hospital for treatment over the last 48 hours.

Out of the 505 residents of Eluru affected by the disease, over 370 have recovered and another 120 are still being treated at the Eluru Government General Hospital. At the same time, 19 patients have been referred to government hospitals in Vijayawada and Guntur for better treatment.

The incident mysterious illness first came to light on December 6 when residents of Eluru city in Andhra’s West Godavari district complained memory loss, anxiety, vomiting, headache, backpain and a bout of epilepsy for 3-5 minutes.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on December 8 held a review meeting to discuss the tests conducted on samples collected from affected areas of Eluru city. The CM has asked officials to submit a detailed report on the nature of the mysterious disease, the tests conducted on samples collected from Eluru and the treatment being given to patients.

Meanwhile, two delegates from the World Health Organisation(WHO) also arrived in Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday to inquire about the disease that broke out in Eluru. A three member team from the Union Health and Family Welfare( MoHFW) also reached Eluru at the direction of Vice President Venkaiah Naidu.