Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Friday directed health officials to take serious note of the continuous deaths being reported in Turakapalem village of Guntur district, declare a health emergency in the village, and immediately shift all those suffering from illness to hospitals.
The Chief Minister held a review on the death of 23 people in the past two months due to an unidentified disease.
He instructed that health camps be conducted in the village on Saturday and Sunday, with medical tests for every resident to prepare a complete health profile of the community.
Naidu also advised health officials to seek assistance from AIIMS Mangalagiri doctors and, if necessary, involve international medical experts.
He ordered the supply of safe drinking water to the village and made it clear that no new cases should be reported henceforth.
Officials informed the Chief Minister that based on observations over the last 72 hours, they suspected the prevalence of the Melioidosis bacterium, and blood samples had been sent to laboratories for confirmation. The test results are expected within three days.
They further explained that they are investigating whether the infection might have spread from cattle, as most villagers depend on cattle rearing.
Melioidosis, they said, typically spreads during the rainy season and floods, with farmers working in waterlogged fields being more vulnerable to the disease.