But a pall of gloom descended on the camp by afternoon following the death of a seven-year-old girl, Madivi Jamuna. 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. She was not alone — 52 others had taken ill, 47 of whom are children.
Polavaram District Collector K. 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. P.V. Sudhakar, former principal of Andhra Medical College.
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. 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.
“Chloroquine is a drug that is a lifesaver and also a life taker if not administered properly and monitored post-intake,” says Dr.
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. 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. 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. 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.
During the initial days of the COVID-19 outbreak, it was widely discussed as a potential treatment, with U.S.
