Child dies, 52 hospitalised after anti-malaria drug drive in Polavaram

A seven-year-old tribal girl has died and 52 villagers, mostly children, have been hospitalised after being administered chloroquine tablets during an anti-malaria drive in Polavaram district on Tuesday.

The deceased has been identified as Madivi Jamuna, a Koya tribal girl from Gollaguppa village in Yetapaka mandal. She reportedly died hours after receiving the tablet.

Officials from the Lakshmipuram Primary Health Centre (PHC) administered chloroquine tablets to 71 people in the village as a preventive measure after at least five malaria cases were reported there.

Following the incident, 28 villagers, mostly children, were shifted to the Bhadrachalam government hospital, where their condition is stated to be out of danger. Another 24 villagers were admitted to the Lakshmipuram PHC.

Integrated Tribal Development Agency (Chintoor) Project Officer Subham Nokwal confirmed the death and said officials are monitoring the situation. Polavaram District Collector K. Dinesh Kumar said the health condition of all those undergoing treatment is stable and they are out of danger.