Why have people fallen sick after Chloroquine administration in Andhra Pradesh | Explained

On September 1, a medical camp in Gollaguppa village, Yetapaka mandal of Polavaram district, Andhra Pradesh, witnessed a tragic turn of events. While the camp proceeded normally, it was marred by the death of a seven-year-old girl, Madivi Jamuna, and the sudden illness of 52 others, mostly children. District Collector K. Dinesh Kumar disclosed that 23 children were subsequently shifted to Bhadrachalam Area Hospital for urgent medical care.

The cause of Madivi's demise and the illness of others is linked to the administration of Chloroquine tablets. Chloroquine, a common drug used in malaria-prone areas, serves both as a treatment for malaria and a preventive measure. It is particularly vital in regions heavily infested with Plasmodium falciparum, the species responsible for cerebral malaria, which accounts for 70-80% of Andhra Pradesh's total malaria burden.

Although fatalities from malaria have decreased over the past decade, the disease remains prevalent, especially post-monsoon. In 2024 and 2025, Alluri Sitharama Raju district (Visakhapatnam) recorded around 3,690 and 3,500 cases, while Parvathipuram Manyam (Srikakulam) saw approximately 2,650 and 1,820 cases. The state's total for those years was roughly 7,800 and 7,000 cases, respectively.

Chloroquine, a powerful medication, requires careful administration and monitoring. Dr. P.V. Sudhakar, a former principal of Andhra Medical College, warns that improper dosing, especially in young children, or failure to assess certain conditions can lead to severe adverse effects, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, headache, dizziness, skin rashes, and in extreme cases, seizures, vision impairment, central nervous system damage, and cardiac arrest.

The sudden illness of so many individuals in this camp raises questions about the quality of the administered Chloroquine batch. Senior doctors from King George Hospital in Visakhapatnam emphasize the importance of examining the batch numbers, expiry dates, and storage conditions to ascertain if improper storage led to drug degradation or contamination. They strongly recommend a thorough chemical analysis of the batch to identify the cause of the widespread adverse reactions.