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A mysterious fever has struck Amiti village in Odisha’s Rayagada district, leaving over two dozen families suffering without clear diagnosis. Despite visits from health officials, villagers report no improvement, sources said on Friday.
The illness, now spreading for nearly a month, has alarmed residents.
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According to the sources, Amiti village under Ramanaguda block in the district has been reeling under the grip of an unidentified fever that has left villagers anxious and health workers scrambling for answers. Out of more than 100 families residing in the village, around 25 families have reported similar symptoms over the past 20 to 25 days.
Patients suffer from body aches and muscle stiffness
The illness begins with fever, followed by severe pain in the limbs, muscle stiffness, and eventually weakness so profound that patients are unable to stand or move. While some villagers have recovered after medication, many remain ill, and recovery has been slow and inconsistent.
Health department teams from Ukumba and Ramanaguda visited the village, however, there has been little to no improvement in their condition. Some villagers were even forced to seek care outside the district, with a few traveling to neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.
A doctor from Primary Health Centre (PHC) in Ukumba attributed the widespread illness to changing weather patterns and explained that all blood samples tested negative for viral infections, hinting at a possible undetected or non-viral cause.
Beyond health impacts, the outbreak has deeply affected the local economy. As the villagers primarily rely on farming, the illness has disrupted agricultural activities, threatening the financial stability of many families.
With no definitive diagnosis and recurring symptoms, Amiti villagers remain distressed and are urging authorities for more effective intervention and in-depth investigation.
“Blood samples were tested and the reports were negative. It seems to be a viral fever, which has been caused due to recent weather change. We had administered medicine for simple fever and several patients have recovered in the meanwhile,” Ukumba PHC in-charge Dr. Siddharth Mallick said when contacted.
Reported By: Rakesh Padhi
