Mystery Illness Claims 7 Children in MP’s Balaghat, Cause Still Unknown

At least seven children have died in the tribal-dominated Balaghat district since late June after developing an unidentified illness involving fever, skin rashes and kidney damage, health officials said on Wednesday.

The illness has been reported in several villages, including Adori, Bondari, Machhurda and Kundekasa, under the Birsa development block. The latest reported death was that of a three-year-old girl, Priyanka, who died at Balaghat District Hospital after being admitted on August 9. Officials said she had been suffering from multiple health complications.

Chief Medical and Health Officer Dr Paresh Upallav said six other children had died between June 26 and August 6. Doctors treating affected children have reported symptoms including anaemia, dehydration, kidney damage, high fever, eczema, fungal infections and unexplained rashes.

Despite investigations by specialists from Jabalpur Medical College, paediatricians and local medical teams, the exact cause of the illness remains unknown. Biological samples have been sent to a Pune laboratory for testing, with officials awaiting reports to identify the suspected pathogen.

Given the seriousness of the situation, an AIIMS Delhi team is visiting Balaghat to assess the outbreak and assist local health authorities.

Meanwhile, senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh has written to Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, expressing concern over the deaths. Singh claimed that 11 children had died in the Birsa tribal block and that more than 100 children had been admitted to the district hospital, with several reportedly in critical condition.

Singh urged the government to send senior health officials and medical experts to the affected villages and establish medical camps. He also demanded ₹10 lakh compensation for each deceased child’s family and called for critically ill children to be shifted to hospitals in Nagpur, Raipur or Bhopal if required.

Authorities are continuing their investigation, with the pending laboratory reports expected to help determine the cause of the outbreak.