No virus, bacteria behind Eluru illness, says CCMB

HYDERABAD: The Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) has ruled out infection due to virus, bacteria and parasite in the Eluru mystery illness case. In this regard, CCMB submitted its report to Andhra Pradesh government on Wednesday.
CCMB director Dr Rakesh Mishra said the contaminant may be deliberately or inadvertently released into the water system. “As the water samples were collected on Dec 5 or 6, they didn’t yield any results as by that time contamination levels have come down.”

West Godavari district joint collector Himanshu Shukla, however, said IICT has given a clear report that water was not source for the illness.“NEERI said air and water was clean. Lead and nickel may not be the reason as they would lead to fatalities,” he pointed out.
Dr A Shariff, founder of clinical toxicology lab at AIIMS Delhi, said pesticide compounds along with higher levels of heavy metals could be the reason for the illness. “NIN found pesticides and herbicides. Pesticides could be the prime reason,” he told TOI. Lead above 120 micrograms per decilitre was found in one patient. “So, lead or nickel cannot be the reason. The main culprit behind so many people falling sick could be pesticide,” he added.
Though probe by various agencies into the mystery illness has been inconclusive, fingers point to organachlorine or organphashorus pesticides laced with heavy metals.