400 Indians in hospital after mystery illness

BHUBANESWAR: One person died and more than 400 were hospitalised in southern India due to an unidentified infection that caused many to fall unconscious following seizures and nausea, a senior health department official said on Monday.

Government and medical authorities in Andhra Prad­esh said more than 200 people were discharged at the weekend and that tests had ruled out Covid-19. Further serological tests are underway.

“The causes of the outbreak are not known yet,” the state government said in a statement, adding that people in all age groups appeared prone to the infection.

India’s federal health ministry said it would send a team of three medical exp­er­ts to investigate the outbreak, which has infected more than 300 children. “The children reportedly suffered from dizziness, fainting spells, headache and vomiting,” the ministry said.