Hundreds Of People Hospitalised In India With Mystery Illness

One person has died and dozens are sick as a mysterious illness has occurred among citizens in India.

The illness, which isn't the coronavirus, was first discovered in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.

Doctors say the hospitalised patients - who number more than 200 - are experiencing symptoms like nausea, anxiety and loss of consciousness.

The patients cover a wide age range and have all tested negative to Covid-19, as well as other viral diseases like dengue, chikungunya and herpes. So far, tests haven't delivered any answers.

Authorities have also been testing water samples in the area, however results haven't shown any signs of contamination.

A medical officer at Eluru Government Hospital told The Indian Express newspaper: "The people who fell sick, especially the children, suddenly started vomiting after complaining of burning eyes."

Opposition leader N. Chandrababu Naidu is demanding an 'impartial, full-fledged inquiry' into the incident to see whether anyone else is at risk.

He said on Twitter: "With more than 250 people now affected, the situation in Eluru is worsening. I demand an impartial, full-fledged inquiry into the incident. Floods, cyclone or healthcare, the YSRCP Govt has been caught napping in emergency situations.

"Can there be a more unfortunate & bigger failure than this? The Eluru water contamination incident calls for a declaration of Health Emergency in Andhra Pradesh. Enough.

"The Eluru incident is just the tip of an iceberg. The Govt's negligence & the deterioration of healthcare services across AP stands exposed today. It's a shame for any Govt if it can't provide basic necessities like safe & clean drinking water to our people."

It comes at a time where Andhra Pradesh is dealing with a large number of coronavirus cases. It's the worst affected area in India with more than 800,000 infections, and the health service is being pushed to breaking point.

India is the third worst country in the world in terms of Covid-19 deaths, behind America and Brazil.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: News, Health, India

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie is a Trending Journalist at LADbible. His first job was as a newsreader and journalist at the award winning Sydney radio station, Macquarie Radio. He was solely responsible for the content broadcast on multiple stations across Australia when the MH17, Germanwings and AirAsia disasters unfolded. Stewart has covered the conflict in Syria for LADbible, interviewing a doctor on the front line, and has contributed to the hugely successful UOKM8 campaign.

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