On Tuesday (September 1, 2026) morning, the medical camp at Gollaguppa village in Yetapaka mandal of Polavaram district looked like any routine camp held across the agency areas of the undivided districts of Visakhapatnam, Srikakulam, and East and West Godavari. But a pall of gloom descended on the camp by afternoon following the death of a seven-year-old girl, Madivi Jamuna. She was not alone — 52 others had taken ill, 47 of whom are children.

Polavaram District Collector K. Dinesh Kumar said on Wednesday (September 2, 2026): “As many as 23 children have been shifted from Lakshmipuram PHC to Bhadrachalam Area Hospital for better medical treatment.”

The cause of Madivi’s death and the sudden illness of the others is attributed to the administration of Chloroquine tablets.

This tablet is a routine drug administered in malaria-prone areas — both as a cure for malaria and as a preventive measure against the endemic that has plagued these tribal hamlets for decades.

These regions are heavily dominated by Plasmodium falciparum (P. falciparum), the species responsible for cerebral malaria, which historically accounts for 70% to 80% of Andhra Pradesh’s total malaria burden.

Though fatalities have declined over the last decade thanks to preventive measures implemented by the authorities, malaria remains rampant, especially after the monsoon season.

In 2024 and 2025, Alluri Sitharama Raju district, carved out of Visakhapatnam, recorded about 3,690 and over 3,500 cases, respectively. During the same period, Parvathipuram Manyam, carved out of Srikakulam, recorded approximately 2,650 and 1,820 cases. The State’s total stood at roughly 7,800 and 7,000 cases during those years.

‘A lifesaver and also a life taker’

“Chloroquine is a drug that is a lifesaver and also a life taker if not administered properly and monitored post-intake,” says Dr. P.V. Sudhakar, former principal of Andhra Medical College.

It can be administered as a treatment for someone suffering from malaria or as a preventive (prophylactic) drug. It is a potent medication, and certain conditions must be assessed before it is prescribed. During the initial days of the COVID-19 outbreak, it was widely discussed as a potential treatment, with U.S. President Donald Trump — he was then in his first term — requesting India to supply the drug, Dr. Sudhakar noted.

The drug has a very narrow therapeutic index, meaning the margin between a safe, effective dose and a toxic or lethal one is extremely small.

Improper dosing or administering it on an empty stomach, particularly to young children, can cause severe adverse effects and lead to fatalities.

Common initial symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, headache, dizziness, and skin rashes. High doses can trigger a sudden drop in blood pressure (hypotension) or blood sugar levels (hypoglycemia).

Severe reactions can lead to seizures, vision impairment, central nervous system damage, and cardiac arrest. “This is why, before administering it, healthcare workers must verify that patients, especially children, are not on an empty stomach and do not show signs of underlying diseases, malnourishment, or dehydration. The dosage must be calculated based on these parameters and cannot simply be generalised,” Dr. Sudhakar explained.

Why have people fallen sick?

This drug has been in wide use across tribal districts throughout the State for a long time. Why, then, have so many people fallen sick all at once?

Apart from the standard risk factors, senior doctors from King George Hospital in Visakhapatnam emphasise the need to inspect the quality of the administered batch. The batch numbers, expiry dates, and storage conditions must be investigated by the authorities, as improper storage can lead to drug degradation or contamination.

The medical fraternity strongly recommended an immediate chemical analysis of this batch to determine why it affected such a large number of people.