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Hundreds of people, including many children, have to be treated in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh for a febrile illness that has not yet been clearly identified.
According to reports, there are already more than 50 deaths within a few weeks, including more than 40 children.
The hospitals in the region, already heavily burdened by the corona pandemic and currently many malaria cases, hardly know what to do with the new admissions.
Alok Kumar, Head of Firozabad Hospital
“We have already taken in around 400 patients, and as you can see, we set up beds in the kitchen or in the storage room wherever possible.
The next step will probably be to put beds in buildings that are under construction to increase our capacity to 600 patients. "
The first cases occurred about three weeks ago.
Indian media report that experts now assume that it is the Tsutsugamushi fever.
It is triggered by a bacterium that is transmitted by mites in bushes.
There is no vaccine for the disease - but antibiotics can be used if it is detected early enough.
Dengue fever, which is transmitted by mosquitoes, cannot yet be ruled out based on the symptoms.
Dinesh Kumar Premi, Chief Physician at Firozabad Hospital
“We cannot say for sure that it is dengue.
Of the 50 people who died yesterday, some were confirmed cases of dengue.
But some just had a fever. "
Authorities fear the outbreak could develop into a larger epidemic.
A team of health experts is now to investigate the background on behalf of the Indian government.