India: Outbreak of Deadly Diseases Including ‘Mystery Illness’ Hits Children in Rayalaseema Region

“An outbreak of diseases, one of these being described as a mystery illness, has taken a heavy toll on children in Andhra Pradesh’s Rayalaseema region. At least 500 children, aged between two and five, have been admitted to the Kurnool Government General Hospital with symptoms of dengue, chikungunya and ‘strange viral fevers’, doctors say.

Since October 12, the hospital has seen the death of 22 children. Just how many of them died due to viral fever is not clear. Resident medical officer Dr Gopal Raj said the high death count is due to the large number of children admitted to the neo-natal ICU following complications at birth. Kurnool Government Hospital is the largest referral hospital in Rayalaseema, especially for newborns.

The state government ordered an inquiry on Tuesday after being criticised by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) the previous day. A team of health department, sanitation and Pollution Control Board officials has been sent to Kurnool and Kadapa districts to assess the situation.” Source – Indian Express.

Mysterious disease kills 28 children in India – “In India’s Bihar state, at least 28 children have died in the past week from an unidentified illness. Officials said that all of the children were between two and eight years. They died in Muzaffarpur town, 80kms (50 miles) from the state capital, Patna. Bihar Health Minister Ashwani Choubey told that a team of doctors from Delhi is visiting Muzaffarpur on Tuesday to diagnose the disease. The children died after reporting high fever followed by bouts of unconsciousness and convulsions.” Read more.