7-yr-old girl dies after consuming antimalarial tablet in Andhra village, says official

Polavaram, Andhra Pradesh: A seven-year-old girl has died after reportedly falling ill following the distribution of an antimalarial tablet in Gollaguppa village of Andhra Pradesh's Polavaram area, officials said on Wednesday.

The incident occurred during a malaria-control drive in the village, where 71 people were administered chloroquine tablets. Several residents subsequently reported health problems, prompting the district administration to launch an emergency medical response.

The deceased girl has been identified as Madivi Jamuna, a Class 2 student. She was among those who fell ill after taking the medicine and later died while undergoing treatment, according to officials. The precise cause of death has not yet been established and is being investigated.

52 people undergoing treatment

Following reports of illness, authorities shifted 29 patients to a hospital in Telangana, while another 24 were taken to a local health centre. Officials said the condition of those undergoing treatment was stable.

District Collector Dinesh Kumar urged residents not to panic and said medical teams were closely monitoring the situation.

A medical camp has been established in the affected village, while specialist teams have been deployed to assess the patients and determine what caused the illnesses.

A nine-member specialist team from Kakinada Government General Hospital has reached Gollaguppa. Three paediatricians have also been deployed, with additional teams from Vijayawada, Rajamahendravaram and Kakinada expected to assist in the medical response.

CM Chandrababu Naidu orders probe

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has directed officials to ensure that all affected patients receive the best possible treatment and ordered an investigation into the incident.

The Chief Minister also spoke with senior health officials and the district collector to seek details about the circumstances surrounding the illness, the treatment being provided and the condition of the patients.

Authorities are now examining the medicine distributed during the malaria-control campaign and the circumstances surrounding the reported illnesses.

What is chloroquine?

Chloroquine is an antimalarial medicine used to treat certain malaria infections. While the medicine was distributed as part of a malaria-control initiative, officials have not yet established that the tablet caused the child's death.

The investigation, including medical assessments and post-mortem procedures, is expected to help establish the exact cause.

The incident has raised concern in the village, particularly after several people fell ill following the medicine distribution. Authorities have appealed to residents to cooperate with medical teams while the investigation continues.