The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Villagers afflicted with mysterious eye ailment

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Apr 01, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Villagers afflicted with mysterious eye ailment

Staff Reporter

300 persons of Kavarangulam complain of irritation in the eye

This 60-year-old woman is one of the victims of the `mysterious' eye disease.

RAMANATHAPURAM: About 300 persons, including 53 school children, of Kavarangulam, near here, have been afflicted with a mysterious eye ailment.

The Panchayat Union Primary School on Wednesday held its annual day celebrations in front of the school. Almost the entire village turned out for the function. As the programme was on, some in the audience began to feel irritation in the eye. Soon, others and those in nearby houses too began to complain of irritation and pain in the eye.

"All the people and the dignitaries at the venue had a tough time because of acute pain and irritation. It was a dampener. I could not understand the cause for the eye irritation," said K. Pushpam, head mistress.

M. Anandammal (60) said she was unable to sleep the whole night because of the severe pain.

Medical team

A medical team from Devipattinam visited the village and provided treatment to the affected persons. Seven were referred to the Government Hospital at Ramanathapuram. Though some felt a little relief, most of them complained of eye irritation on Friday also. Interestingly, the medical team and the reporters, who visited the village on Friday, also felt irritation in the eye.

Collector K. Sellamuthu and C. Velayudham, Deputy Director, told The Hindu that ophthalmologists were sent to the village to find out the cause for the mysterious ailment. So far, treatment had been given to 285 persons. They were asked to monitor the situation round the clock.

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