Hair loss in Shegaon villages 100 people in 11 villages now found to be affected

 

 

 

MORE people from more villages have been found suffering from the hair loss problem in Shegaon taluka of Buldhana district. As on Thursday, the total number of cases reached 100 and the number of affected villages also went up to 11. The District Health administration is conducting surveys and has sent samples for investigations into the cause of the problem. People from three villages of Shegaon taluka had suffered sudden hair loss resulting in baldness. The first case was found in Bhongaon Primary Health Centre (PHC). The PHC team conducted a survey the very next day found more patients.

 

A report was sent to Taluka Health Officer and the District Health Officer. On Wednesday, District Health Officer Dr Amol Geete along with District Survey Officer, Dermatologist, IDSP team, Taluka Health Officer and Medical Officer visited the villages concerned, surveyed the villages and took samples. They found number of cases in Bhongaon PHC. They included 19 from Bhondgaon village, 15 from Kalwad, 8 from Kathora, 4 from Bhongaon, and 5 from Machhindrakhed. Under Primary Health Centre, Jawala (Bu), 6 cases were found to be from Hingana Vaijinath and 8 from Ghui village. On Thursday, Epidemiological Officer conducted a survey and found more cases in Jawala (Bu). Ten cases were now reported from Taroda Kasba while under Jalamb PHC, 8 cases were found in Matargaon, 12 in Pahurjira and 5 in Nimbi. Thus a total of 100 patients have been found in 11 such villages till date. Reports of the water samples sent for biological/chemical testing shows Nitrates 54.08 ppm, Nitrates - 48.75 ppm and TDS 2110 ppm. Total 5 patients have been sent to the Government College in Akola for Skin Biopsy Testing. The dermatologist who examined the patients concluded that it could be fungal infection and accordingly, treatment has been started at the primary health centre after observing the symptoms.

 

Meanwhile, Health Department team is conducting a house-to-house survey in the nearby villages where complaint was received. Meanwhile, Director, Health Services, Mumbai, called Deputy Director Akola on telephone and instructed to send team including microbiologist, physician, pediatrician, dermatologist, MDPSM, specialists from Akola Medical College to conduct survey and present a detailed report. Testing of the water collected from different villages for its contents including heavy metals, arsenic and lead, as suggested by the dermatalogist can take 5-6 days. The District and taluka-level officers and employees will continue to work in the area until the situation is brought under control, it was informed.

 

Meanwhile, drinking water is supplied to the in the above villages from a dam at Wari Hanuman and it’s water is portable, says a report. However, most villages use water from borewell or well is not fit for use due to high levels of nitrate and TDS. The water samples of the affected villages have been sent to Nagpur for testing. It will take 8-10 days for the reports to come. Till that time, citizens of the above village have been told by Dr Amol Gite, District Health Officer, Zilla Parishad, Buldhana, not to drink or use unfit waters.