mysterious-illness-hits-120-kids-at-gujarat-school

More than 120 students from a school in Gujarat have reported troubling eye-related symptoms in a case that has baffled health officials and prompted an urgent state-level investigation.

 

The incident was reported from J.M. Desai Vidhyamandir School in Jhank village, located in Dehgam taluka of Gandhinagar district. Out of 225 students enrolled in the school, 122 were affected and subsequently referred to the Gandhinagar Civil Hospital for medical observation and treatment.

 

The students began complaining of eye redness, burning sensations, irritation, and in some cases, double vision from 30 June.

 

As of Wednesday, 120 students continued to experience symptoms, though most had been discharged from the hospital after screening. Two students remain under observation, according to local health officials.

 

Authorities have confirmed that the condition of all affected children is stable and no serious complications have been identified so far.

 

Initial medical investigations, including blood and urine tests, have ruled out damage to internal organs such as the liver or kidneys, offering relief to anxious families.

 

District officials and medical teams from the Kadadara Primary Health Centre visited the school premises shortly after the outbreak.

 

Students were then sent to the Gandhinagar Civil Hospital for further tests and treatment. The hospital also arranged meals for the admitted children, ensuring basic care in addition to medical support.

 

While the clinical condition of the children has not worsened, the cause of the illness remains a mystery. Officials from the health, education, and food safety departments have launched a joint investigation.

 

Water samples from the school and its hostel, as well as food samples, have been collected and sent to laboratories for analysis.

 

Despite the rapid mobilisation of different departments, there is still no clarity on what triggered the outbreak.

 

The failure to establish a cause more than 24 hours after the first cases emerged has led to questions about coordination and preparedness among administrative authorities in handling such emergencies.