Hyderabad: Eluru, where the number of people hit by a mysterious illness continues to rise, has become the focus of attention of top scientists and medical experts from all over the country.
Even as the cause behind the illness, with the symptoms of giddiness, vomiting and lost of consciousness remains elusive, all eyes were now on the findings of doctors from the All Indian Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and scientists form the National Institute of Nutrition and Indian Institute of Chemical Technology.
Blood samples of several victims were sent to these institutions and reports were expected to come by Thursday, officials said.
Katamneni Bhaskar, Commissioner, Public Health, Andhra Pradesh said, “Preliminary investigations showed the presence of excess amount of lead and nickel in the patients. But the source from which they found their way into the victims was yet to be identified”, he said.
Initially municipal tap water was suspected as source but later it was ruled out as the people in areas without tap water supply were also affected by the illness.
Now the milk was under the scanner and reports were awaited, officials said.
Chief Minister Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy who, along with several other ministers, visited the affected town of Eluru in West Godavari district held a video conference on Wednesday with officials and experts.
“So far 585 people were affected by the illness and 502 of them were discharged after improvement,” the Chief Minister informed the meeting. “Of the 83 people still under treatment, 32 were shifted to government hospitals in Vijaywada and Guntur”.
The mysterious illness, which started last week, has claimed one life and left hundreds others affected.
It was largely believed that the illness was caused by the entry of chemicals into the food cycle through contaminated drinking water or some other food item.
