13 Dead, 7 Still Hospitalized After Consuming Contaminated Milk

A deadly health scare in India has left at least 13 people dead and several others hospitalized after authorities say they consumed contaminated milk.

Health officials provided an update on March 12, more than two weeks after the alarming cases first began appearing in the East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh state on Feb. 22.

According to officials, the death toll has now reached 13, while seven people remain hospitalized in Rajamahendravaram receiving treatment.

The situation began when several elderly residents in the area started reporting severe symptoms, including vomiting, abdominal pain, difficulty urinating and sudden kidney failure.

Doctors soon realized the cases were linked to milk that had been distributed locally.

Authorities say the milk is believed to have come from Varalakshmi Milk Dairy in the Korukonda region. Samples were collected and sent for testing after residents began falling ill.

Investigators suspect the milk may have been adulterated — meaning it was contaminated with foreign substances.

Adulterated milk can contain dangerous additives such as detergents, chemicals, starch, urea or other substances used to increase volume or extend shelf life.

Medical tests showed that many of the victims had unusually high levels of blood urea and serum creatinine, both indicators that the kidneys were under severe stress and possibly exposed to toxins.

Officials with India’s Food Safety and Standards Authority believe a chemical called ethylene glycol may be responsible for the contamination. The chemical is commonly used as a coolant in refrigeration systems.

Authorities are investigating whether the chemical may have leaked from refrigeration equipment into milk storage containers at a small dairy facility.

Health officials say the milk had been distributed to about 106 families before supplies were suddenly halted once residents began reporting serious symptoms.

After the outbreak was detected, emergency teams were deployed to the region, including doctors, microbiologists, epidemiologists and forensic specialists working to determine exactly what happened.

Medical teams and ambulances were also placed on standby around the clock to treat anyone experiencing symptoms linked to the contaminated milk.