News/City Updates

11 from Andhra Pradesh fall ill after trying TikTok ‘remedy’ for COVID-19

A TikTok video, with tips and home remedies to prevent the coronavirus, has landed two families from Andhra Pradesh in a hospital on Tuesday. Despite the Central and the State Governments issuing several advisories to the public, to not believe in unverified remedies to fight COVID-19, a few individuals are still falling prey to such fraudulent solutions. 

According to sources, the incident took place at Aalapalli Kotthur in Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh, where two families, comprising of eleven members, watched a video on TikTok. The video claimed that drinking the juice from the Datura plant’s (Ummetta) seeds can prevent one from contracting the deadly virus. However, after drinking the juice, they fell ill and were soon rushed to the nearby Primary Health Care (PHC) centre. The victims were treated and discharged from the hospital later in the day. 

Speaking to the media, Chittoor District Medical and Health Officer, Dr M Penchalaiah, urged the citizens not to fall for rumours and unverified remedies. He mentioned that though trials to invent COVID-19 vaccine are underway, as there’s no vaccine for the virus as of now. He further requested the public to observe social distancing and follow the guidelines issued by the Indian Government. 

Earlier in February, a resident of Seshamanaidu Kandriga, in the same district, committed suicide, fearing that he had contracted COVID-19. His family said that he had been watching videos about the coronavirus on social media and panicked about spreading the disease to others in his village.

This post was last modified on 09/04/2020 2:01 pm

Leave a Comment
Published by
Team Yo! Vizag

Recent Posts

Escape the heat by visiting these Hill stations near Vizag

Vizag is beautiful, but when the summer starts summering, the heat can be unbearable. Luckily,…

15 hours ago

Brilliant or bizarre? 6 AI generated movies you need to see

The emergence of Artificial Intelligence has sparked numerous debates since it became accessible to the…

15 hours ago

An indulgent feast: 5 Must-try delectable cakes in Vizag!

Cakes have been one of the ultimate solutions to gloomy days and a staple to…

16 hours ago

5 must-watch OTT releases you shouldn’t miss over the weekend!

We're bringing another week of March to a resounding close. Ending it on a bang…

17 hours ago

If you’re in Visakhapatnam, there’s no better time than now to do these 6 things

If you love trying new things and adding exciting experiences to your bucket list, you…

19 hours ago

Heatwave alert issued for Visakhapatnam as dry weather prevails

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) in Amaravati has reported that Andhra Pradesh's coastal regions, Rayalaseema,…

20 hours ago