How a 'mysterious' disease is afflicting kids of a highly vulnerable tribal group in MP

Official accounts say eight children have died since June 26 and around 100 are under treatment at the Balaghat district hospitalAlmost two months since outbreak, a ‘mysterious’ disease afflicting children in a tribal block of Madhya Pradesh’s Balaghat district has caused multiple deaths. There are disputing claims about the toll—the local administration claims it is eight while unofficial numbers peg it at 20 deaths.The battle to control the infection has been compounded by the multitude of symptoms that the affected children from the Baiga community—a particularly vulnerable tribal group (PVTG)—have been showing, such as cold, cough, lung infection and scabies. Many children also got measles and malaria. This has been happening since June 26.According to official accounts, eight children in the 3 to 12 age-group have died and around 100 are undergoing treatment at the district hospital in Balaghat. The first cases were reported from the villages of Kundekasa, Bordia and Korka in Birsa block. A couple of other villages have also come under the spectre.Doctors find the symptoms diverse and seemingly unconnected. “We have noticed scabies, malaria and respiratory tract viral infections among children in the affected villages,” said Dr Paresh Uplap, chief medical and health officer, Balaghat. The administration’s strategy has been to take the treatment protocols to the villages. House to house surveys are being done and any child with fever is being admitted to hospital. A temporary hospital with five beds has been created in Kundekasa village—one of the most affected. Vitamin A drops are being administered for measles and anti-mosquito fumigation is on.Sources said resistance by the local community to report symptoms to medical staff and get admitted in hospitals has been one of the reasons behind the mortalities.The Baiga, Sahariya and Bharia communities are the three designated PVTGs in the state. The classification is based on their lifestyle and lower than average socio-economic indices, when compared among the tribal communities.Subscribe to India Today Magazine- EndsPublished By: Yashwardhan SinghPublished On: Aug 18, 2026 18:30 IST