HYDERABAD: A marriage ceremony in tribal village of Muthyalagudem in Khammam district on May 14 turned out as a Covid-19 superspreader. Four persons, including bridegroom’s father, have died and nearly 100 people have been infected with the virus.
Two persons succumbed to the virus on Wednesday. With no villager, including the family members, willing to come forward to perform the last rites, the local gram panchayat in Karepalli mandal stepped in to conduct the last rites of the bridegroom’s father. Those who tested positive are in home isolation.
According to health officials, over 250 people attended the wedding in the village. In the tests conducted, as many as 100 people have tested positive for Covid-19 and they all have attended the marriage function.
While Covid-19 measures were reportedly taken at the May 14 event, they were not strictly adhered to by the guests as several of them reportedly did not wear masks. For the families of the couple, relatives and friends who attended the wedding, everything seemed fine for a week.
One of the persons, who attended the wedding, developed Covid-19 symptoms and his report came positive on May 20. Some more individuals also tested positive in the next few days after coming back from the wedding.
The health officials have taken measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in the village and advised the people not to venture out of their houses.
The officials are also in the process of testing and contact tracing.
It may be recalled a wedding ceremony in Hanmajipet village in Nizamabad district in April was a superspreader event after 87 guests tested positive for Covid-19.
Elsewhere in Khammam district, two more persons have succumbed to the virus. In Pothireddygudem village of Gundala mandal, a 50-yearold man died. In Vepakuntla village in Raghunathapalem village, a woman who was sent home from the hospital after recovering from Covid-19 developed breathing problems. She was rushed to the hospital but died.
