VIJAYAWADA: Chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Friday directed that health officials take a serious note on continuous deaths in Turakapalem of Guntur district and declare a health emergency in the village. He ordered that all the people suffering with unexplained illness should be admitted to hospital.Naidu conducted a review meeting on death of around 20 people in Turakapalem village in the past two months with unknown disease. He said health camps should be conducted in the village on Saturday and Sunday and medical tests should be conducted to all and prepare health profile of everyone.He advised the health officials to take the assistance of AIIMS Mangalagiri and if necessary international medical experts. He directed the officials to supply protected drinking water in the village. He made it clear no new case should be reported hereafter.“Officials should be vigilant 24X7 as there is a high possibility for the spread of the suspected bacterial disease through drinking water, food items, and through air.Meanwhile, the state govt constituted a high-level committee, led by Director of Secondary Health (DSH) Dr A Siri, to identify the officials responsible for failing to apprise higher authorities in time about the sudden spike in deaths in Turakapalem village. The committee will also make recommendations on measures to ensure that health department officials are immediately informed in case of a large number of deaths due to any illness in any region of the state in the future. This was announced by Health Minister Y Satya Kumar Yadav on Friday during his visit to Turakapalem village.Stating that stern action would be taken against all those officials for their inaction in reporting the deaths to the health authorities, Satya Kumar Yadav warned that no official will be spared and appropriate action will be taken against all the officials once the probe report is submitted by the high-level committee, which was ordered to complete in a week’s time. Speaking to reporters, Satya Kumar Yadav said it is unfortunate on the part of the healthcare personnel working at the field level that they did not apprise the higher officials despite 23 people dying in the past two months. He said that the mean age of the deceased is 55, while around seven deceased were aged above 70 years. Dismissing media reports linking Melioidosis as the reason behind the deaths, the health minister said that the blood test reports have not confirmed the Melioidosis bacteria and that chemical and biological tests are also being done to determine the exact cause. The minister toured Turakapalem village, visiting the victims’ households, enquiring about their health condition, and consoling the bereaved family members, besides taking a first-hand review of the medical services being provided to the villagers at the special medical camp set up in the village.Meanwhile, Guntur DMHO Dr Vijaya Lakshmi informed that the blood culture test results of the blood samples collected from individuals showing fever symptoms will arrive on Saturday.