Epidemic dropsy claims two lives in Gujarat's Banaskantha

PALANPUR: Two women died and six others of their family fell ill reportedly after consuming adulterated mustard oil in Gundri village of Banaskantha’s Dantiwada taluka.
All of them are suspected to have suffered from epidemic dropsy, a clinical condition caused due to consumption of contaminated oil.
According to epidemic medical officer N K Garg, one 22-year-old woman died on Tuesday while a 19-year-old succumbed on Thursday.
Their blood samples have been sent to National Institute of Occupational Health (NIOH) in Ahmedabad for further investigation. A team of paramedical staff led by a medical officer has been camping in the village to strictly observe the possibility of further spread of disease. The affected people are being treated.
The oils are adulterated using argemone oil which contains toxic alkaloids sanguinarine and dihydrosanguinarine. Dropsy or oedema results in severe fluid retention in the body which causes diarrhoea and other complications.