Visakhapatnam: Around 38 girls fell sick in a residential school at Budumbo village of Mandasa mandal in Srikakulam district after they took chloroquine tablets given by the medical and health department on Friday morning as a measure of preventing malaria. Budumbo medical officer Dr Purna and his team rushed to the school and admitted the sick girls into the PHC and shifted some serious cases to Palasa Government Hospital. Their condition was said to be stable.
Many of them returned to the hostel.
The report said the health department personnel gave chloroquine tablets to 66 students of ashram school after breakfast. Suddenly half of them complained of dizziness and started vomiting. When other students raised an alarm, the hostel staff informed the PHC medical officer Dr Purna who immediately gave them first aid.
District medical and health officer Dr B. Meenakshi told this correspondent that they have been giving chloroquine tablets for the last five years and this incident happened for the first time. On Thursday the tablets were given to primary class students and there was no reaction.
She said those who had eaten less breakfast were affected. The primary students were given tablets after lunch.
She said instructions were given to hostel staff to see that the students ate sufficient food before they were given tablets. “As of now all are safe and may be shifted to the hostel on Saturday morning,’’ the DMHO told this correspondent.
