Daijiworld Media Network – Hyderabad
Hyderabad, Sep 2: A seven-year-old girl died after falling ill following the distribution of chloroquine tablets as part of a malaria-control drive in Gollaguppa village of Polavaram district, Andhra Pradesh. At least 52 others are undergoing treatment at hospitals and a local health centre.
A total of 71 people in the village, located along the interstate border with Telangana, were administered the anti-malaria tablets. Several of them reportedly developed health complications after taking the medicine, prompting authorities to shift 29 patients to a hospital in Telangana and 24 others to a local health centre.
The deceased has been identified as Madivi Jamuna, a Class 2 student. She was among those who fell ill after taking the tablets and died while undergoing treatment, officials said. The condition of the other patients is reported to be stable.
The exact cause of Jamuna’s death is yet to be established and is being investigated by the authorities.
District Collector Dinesh Kumar said there was no need for panic, adding that the health condition of those currently receiving treatment was stable.
The district administration has deployed specialist medical teams, including three paediatricians, and established a medical camp to monitor the affected residents. A nine-member specialist team from Kakinada Government General Hospital has also reached the village, while three additional teams from Vijayawada, Rajamahendravaram and Kakinada are expected to join the medical response.
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has directed officials to ensure the best possible treatment for the affected people and ordered an investigation into the incident.
The chief minister also spoke with senior health department officials and the district collector to obtain details about the circumstances surrounding the illness, the treatment being provided and the condition of the patients.
Chloroquine is an anti-parasitic medicine commonly used to treat malaria by acting against the malaria parasite in the blood.