7-yr-old dies, 53 others ill after taking anti-malaria tablets in AP

A seven-year-old girl, Madivi Jamuna, tragically died after consuming three chloroquine tablets during a malaria prevention program in Gollaguppa village, Andhra Pradesh. Fifty-three other individuals, including children and adults, also fell ill due to the administration of the anti-malaria tablets. The incident occurred on Tuesday evening, following a medical camp and fever surveillance in the village where a high number of malaria cases had been detected.

Health officials had administered the chloroquine tablets to 71 people, including schoolchildren, with the prescribed age-specific dosage. Post-treatment, 53 individuals from Gollaguppa village, comprising 48 children and 5 adults, developed complications and were admitted to Bhadrachalam hospital for treatment. The remaining 17 patients with malaria symptoms were being monitored through a special medical camp.

The cause of Jamuna's death is still under investigation, with preliminary assessments indicating a possible underlying hereditary or familial cardiac condition. Doctors suspect that the chloroquine tablets may have triggered cardiac arrhythmia in Jamuna, who had a pre-existing condition, although a definitive diagnosis awaits further laboratory tests.

The government is closely monitoring the situation, providing food and medical care to the affected individuals, and deploying specialized teams for treatment and surveillance.