Diarrhoea outbreak in Gopalapuram, 25 people hospitalised

Rajahmundry: Diarrhoea broke out in Gopalapuram, East Godavari district, with 25 people admitted to the Gopalapuram Community Health Centre (CHC) starting Saturday night. The patients, who work in tobacco fields, were from various villages surrounding the CHC. It is suspected that the fertilizers used in tobacco cultivation may have caused the illness. Speaking to TOI, district medical and health officer (DM&HO) K. Venkateswara Rao stated that the chemicals sprayed in the tobacco fields might have affected the workers, possibly through inhalation. He reported that 10 people had been discharged after treatment, while six others are still receiving care. Venkateswara Rao also mentioned that a field survey has been conducted and medical camps have been set up in the affected villages. Additionally, water, food, and stool samples have been sent to the lab for testing.