One child dies, 53 hospitalised after chloroquine tablets given in Andhra village
POLAVARAM: One child died and 53 people, including 48 children, were hospitalised after being administered chloroquine tablets during an anti-malaria drive at Gollaguppa village in Yetapaka mandal of Polavaram district on Tuesday, officials said.
The tablets were administered as part of fever surveillance following reports of a high number of malaria cases in the village. A medical camp has since been set up at Gollaguppa to monitor residents.
Polavaram district collector K Dinesh Kumar visited the government hospital in Bhadrachalam, Telangana, on Wednesday and met the affected villagers. He reviewed their condition and the medical treatment being provided.
Kumar said the administration was closely monitoring the situation and ensuring better medical services for those affected.
The batch of chloroquine tablets used in the village has been sent to the Visakhapatnam forensic laboratory for testing, he said.
The collector said there was no need for panic and that health officials were monitoring the affected villagers.
A health profile is also being prepared for all 270 residents of Gollaguppa village, as part of the administration’s efforts to assess their health status.
The administration is continuing surveillance and medical monitoring in the village.
