Indian authorities said Tuesday, December 8, 2020, that they had discovered traces of lead and nickel particles in blood samples after hun...
Indian authorities said Tuesday, December 8, 2020, that they had discovered traces of lead and nickel particles in blood samples after hundreds were taken to hospitals in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh with an unknown disease.
In contrast, teams of doctors, including researchers from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi, are examining the cause of one person's death and more than 400 hospital admissions in the past few days.
The Andhra Pradesh state government said Tuesday that the All India Institute of Medical Sciences has detected traces of lead and nickel particles in blood samples of the infected, while another hospital is also conducting similar tests.
Hundreds of children infected
While more than 300 children have contracted the disease, most of them suffer from dizziness, fainting, headaches and vomiting. Tests showed that they were not infected with Covid-19.
Increased blood lead levels can impair the development of the brain, nervous system and vital organs such as the heart and lungs.
Gita Prasadini, director of public health in Andhra Pradesh, said there had been no new cases of the disease in the past 24 hours. A 45-year-old man died of the disease earlier in the week.
It was not immediately clear how common the two chemical agents were in India, despite their presence in mosquito-controlled pesticides.
Deaths due to an unknown disease
A senior official of india's Health Ministry said Monday that a man died and transported more than 400 to hospitals in southern India due to an unidentified infection caused many to fall unconscious after sudden bouts of fatigue and nausea.
Government and medical officials in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh said that more than 200 patients were discharged from hospital earlier this week and that tests had ruled out the condition of Covid-19.
"The causes of the outbreak are not yet known," the state government said in a statement, adding that all age groups appear to be at risk of infection. The Federal Ministry of Health said Monday that it would send a team of three medical experts to investigate the outbreak that has affected more than 300 children.
"The children reportedly developed dizziness, fainting, headaches and vomiting," she said.
Gita Prasadini, director of public health in Andhra Pradesh, said the state Health Ministry was alerted earlier in the week after the death of a 45-year-old man.
The authorities are also analysing water supplies at 20 sites in Eloro, where the outbreak has been detected for the first time and nearby areas, she said.
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