A patient is assisted by others to get down from an ambulance at the district government hospital in Eluru, Andhra Pradesh state, India. Photo / AP
A patient is assisted by others to get down from an ambulance at the district government hospital in Eluru, Andhra Pradesh state, India. Photo / AP
Traces of heavy metals such as lead and nickel have been found in samples taken from 550 people stricken by a mystery illness in a southern Indian town where some victims have collapsed in the street, officials said.
The government has rushed medical experts to Eluru in the Indian stateof Andhra Pradesh to investigate the illness, which first appeared on Saturday.
One man died after showing the symptoms of seizures, nausea and chronic pain.
India is already in grip of the coronavirus with the world's second-highest number of cases, soon expected to pass 10 million. The illness has added to nerves in the region.
Hospital officials said 555 people had been treated since Saturday, including about 80 on Tuesday.
State authorities have ordered an inquiry into the source of the metals and how they were spread.
However, Dr Mohan added that the sample was too small to be sure the lead and nickel had caused the illness sweeping through the town of 200,000 people.
A young patient is carried by a man at the district government hospital in Eluru, Andhra Pradesh state, India. Photo / AP
There are no major chemical factories in the region and wider tests on the water supply and even the milk drunk in the town have been carried out.
Experts from national medical institutes were also collecting samples of edible oil, rice and urine for analysis.
District officials have already pinpointed a possible role of chemical additives in pesticides.
"My colleagues told me, I shouted something and collapsed. I injured my right shoulder due to falling on the road."
Symptoms of those suffering the mystery illness included "epilepsy for three to five minutes, forgetfulness, anxiety, vomiting, headache and back pain".
