Balasore: Eight youths from Balasore suffering from an unknown disease were today admitted to the SCB Medical College and Hospital (SCBMCH) in Cuttack after two of their mates succumbed to the disease at Goa last week.
All of them hailing from Nimatpur in Bhograi area of the district were employed at a restaurant in Goa, sources said. After their return from Goa, the patients were first admitted to the Balasore District Headquarters Hospital (DHH) and later shifted to the SCB with the help of district administration.
According to reports, the affected youth have been complaining of fever and stomach ache.
“Some two weeks ago, one of them fell ill following which he was rushed to a hospital in Goa. He returned after treatment but again fell ill and succumbed to the disease on his way to the hospital,” said relative of one of the youth.
Similarly another youth fell ill few days back and was rushed to hospital but was declared dead by the doctors, he added.
Though the exact reason of the disease is yet unclear, it is being suspected that Nipah virus might be the reason behind the illness.
"I had fever a few days back and got healed after taking medicine. However, now I am suffering from cough. We were living in Goa together and fell ill one after another. It could be due to some kind of virus," said an ailing youth.
“The patients claim that two of their mates died due to anthrax in Goa. However, they do not posses any documentary proof to establish the same. They are suffering from normal fever and cough and no symptom of anthrax was found in any of the patients,” informed, Premkant Mohanty, a doctor at the DHH.
The blood samples of the patients have been collected and sent for medical examination at SCB , sources said.