8 hrs ago
Andhra Village Chloroquine Drive Leaves Girl Dead, Dozens Ill
Health workers gave people chloroquine tablets to help fight malaria.
The tablets were distributed in Gollaguppa village after two villagers tested positive for malaria.
Many people became sick afterward.
A seven-year-old girl named Madivi Jamuna became unconscious after her blood glucose level dropped and later died during treatment.
More than 50 people were reported to be receiving medical care, including many children.
The reports gave slightly different numbers for how many people were being treated and where.
Officials said the patients who remained in treatment were stable.
Investigators are testing the tablet batch and examining what caused the illnesses and the girl's death.
Seven-year-old tribal girl Madivi Jamuna died after falling ill and losing consciousness following chloroquine distribution in Gollaguppa village.
Officials said 71 villagers received the tablets during an anti-malaria drive after two residents tested positive for malaria.
Reports said 52 people were receiving treatment, while another account listed 29 patients at a Telangana hospital and 24 at a local health centre.
ANI reported that 47 hospitalised patients were children and that 17 villagers were receiving care at a special medical camp.
The tablet batch was sent for forensic analysis, specialist teams were deployed, and Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu ordered an investigation.
- Who
- Seven-year-old tribal girl Madivi Jamuna died, while dozens of other villagers, including many children, became ill; officials and medical teams responded.
- What
- An illness outbreak and one death followed the distribution of chloroquine tablets during an anti-malaria drive.
- Where
- Gollaguppa village in Polavaram district, Andhra Pradesh; some patients were treated in Telangana, including at Bhadrachalam Area Hospital.
- When
- The tablets were distributed last week during a fever-surveillance camp, and the girl died on Wednesday, according to the reports.
- Why
- Officials conducted the drive after two villagers tested positive for malaria; the cause of the subsequent illnesses and Jamuna's death remains under investigation.
Official Reassurance
Unresolved Health Concerns
Tablet quality and patient condition
Official Reassurance
District Collector K Dinesh Kumar said quality-control tests on the chloroquine tablets were satisfactory and that patients in treatment were stable, with no need for panic.
Unresolved Health Concerns
The specific batch was sent for forensic analysis because officials had not determined whether the tablets contributed to the illnesses or the girl's death.
Reported scale of the incident
Official Reassurance
Officials described the medical response, including treatment at hospitals and health centres, a medical camp and specialist teams.
Unresolved Health Concerns
The reports differ on the number receiving care: one cited 52, another listed 29 plus 24, and ANI separately reported 17 at a special camp; ANI also said 47 hospitalised patients were children.
Key facts
- Medicine distributed
- Chloroquine tablets
- Village and district
- Gollaguppa village, Polavaram district, Andhra Pradesh
- Reported recipients
- Officials said 71 villagers received the tablets.
- Reported medical care
- One report said 52 people were treated at a hospital and local health centre; another listed 29 at a Telangana hospital and 24 at a local health centre, while ANI reported 17 at a special camp.
- Deceased
- Madivi Jamuna, a seven-year-old Class 2 student, died during treatment.
- Testing
- The specific tablet batch was sent to the Vizag Forensic Laboratory for analysis.
- Medical response
- A nine-member team from Kakinada Government General Hospital arrived, with three additional teams expected from Vijayawada, Rajamahendravaram and Kakinada.
- Government action
- Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu ordered an investigation and directed officials to monitor the situation.
Quotes
Dinesh Kumar
District Collector of Polavaram district
“The health condition of the patients currently undergoing treatment is stable. There is no need for people to panic.”
freepressjournal.in
NDTV
Sources
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