Amaravati, February 25: In Andhra Pradesh’s Rajahmundry, the health of seven individuals remains critical after consuming contaminated milk. This update was provided by Veerapandian, the Commissioner of the state’s Health and Family Welfare Department, on Tuesday.
A total of 15 people are currently receiving treatment across various hospitals. Among them, three patients are on ventilators, two are undergoing dialysis, and three require both ventilator and dialysis support. The affected group includes two children, one of whom is just five months old.
So far, four fatalities have been reported. No new cases emerged on Tuesday. The Commissioner assured that necessary measures are being taken to provide optimal care for all hospitalized patients.
On the advice of senior nephrologist Ravi Raj, special medications aimed at rapidly improving kidney function are being sourced from Chennai and Mumbai, as they were not available locally.
Officials noted that the contaminated milk was distributed on February 16. Since symptoms may appear late in some individuals, doctors have been deployed in the affected areas around the clock. This arrangement will continue for the next month.
Blood samples from 315 individuals across 110 families who received milk from the same vendor have been collected. Of these, two individuals showed elevated creatinine levels, while one exhibited suspicious symptoms. All three have been hospitalized and are currently stable.
Veerapandian stated that no traces of urea have been found in the milk so far. Experts indicated that if urea was indeed added to the milk, severe issues like kidney or liver failure would not manifest immediately but would develop over prolonged consumption.
He also mentioned that if ethylene glycol was mixed in the milk, serious health problems could arise three to four days later.
During a press conference, Neelkanth Reddy, Director of the Institute of Preventive Medicine (Food Safety Department), confirmed that police investigations revealed a leak of ethylene glycol, used as a coolant, from the milk cooling machine.
Ten samples of yogurt, ghee, vinegar, and remaining milk from the affected families have been sent to accredited laboratories in Hyderabad and Kakinada for testing.
Direct samples of milk could not be obtained, but samples of yogurt, paneer, ghee, and cream were collected. Water sample reports are expected to be released in phases between Wednesday and Saturday. Officials hope these reports will clarify the source of contamination.
The vendor is already in police custody, and investigations are ongoing based on the information obtained. The use of ethylene glycol in milk storage and related aspects are also under scrutiny. The mechanic who repaired the milk cooling machine has been questioned as well.
Neelkanth Reddy announced that from Wednesday, a campaign will commence across the state to collect samples from milk traders, manufacturers, storage owners, and wholesalers. Inspections will also verify whether they possess the necessary licenses.
My name is Himanshu Tiwari. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including TECHNOLOGY, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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