Aizawl: Mizoram health authorities are investigating the cause of an illness that has affected 99 residents of Mualthuam North village in Lunglei district, with laboratory tests and water quality analysis underway to determine whether the outbreak is linked to contaminated drinking water or an infectious pathogen.A total of 99 villagers, or about 6.3% of the village’s population of 1,570, were examined by Wednesday as a joint team from the health and family welfare and public health engineering departments intensified its field investigation.The patients, aged between 2 and 63, reported fever, headache, vomiting and body pain. None required hospitalisation, officials said.The first cases were reported around July 15, with schoolchildren accounting for the largest number. Preliminary findings suggest the illness may have spread through schools and community gatherings.Health workers are screening patients for typhoid and scrub typhus. Selected samples have been sent to Zoram Medical College and Hospital in Falkawn village for RT-PCR tests to identify the pathogen.The outbreak has also prompted a parallel investigation into the village’s drinking water.Authorities said the cause of the outbreak will be confirmed after laboratory results are received.
