Rajamahendravaram (Andhra Pradesh), February 24 The Andhra Pradesh government said on Tuesday that elevated levels of blood urea and serum creatinine in the Rajamahendravaram contaminated milk issue had a toxic effect, leading to deaths and hospitalizations.
Recently, four people died and nearly 15 others were hospitalized after allegedly consuming contaminated milk in East Godavari district.
"Doctors have confirmed a toxic impact due to elevated blood urea and serum creatinine levels in the milk contamination case linked to four deaths in East Godavari district," said an official press release.
According to a preliminary epidemiological investigation, milk consumption was identified as the primary cause of the sudden kidney (renal) complications reported among affected persons.
East Godavari District Collector Keerthi Chekuri said that milk was supplied to 106 families from a private dairy in Narasapuram village, and the supply was immediately stopped.
According to the collector, seven of the 15 hospitalised persons are out of danger, while the remaining are on ventilator and dialysis support.
Rapid response teams comprising the district surveillance officer, medical experts, microbiologists, and nephrologists were immediately constituted and deployed in the affected areas, she said.
Chekuri said that 14 field surveillance teams visited nearly 680 houses and screened about 960 families. In 110 families, over 290 persons were identified, and 315 blood samples were collected for examination.
According to the district collector, of the 315 blood samples collected, 313 were normal, while two persons showed elevated urea and creatinine levels.
Meanwhile, the Animal Husbandry Department (AHD) formed a team of four veterinary doctors and collected 41 milk samples, along with cattle feed and water samples, which were sent to the Veterinary Biological Research Institute for testing.
"With all departments taking coordinated action, the situation is currently under control," Chekuri said.
Meanwhile, the police said that a chemical coolant leak from the freezer of a vendor may have resulted in the death of the four people.
Samples collected from the storage unit and the supplied milk have been sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) in Vijayawada for detailed scientific examination.
"The milk was stored in a freezer at the accused person's residence, and we suspect that coolant might have leaked into it. All necessary samples have been sent to the FSL," East Godavari Superintendent of Police (SP) D Narasimha Kishore told