Thu Apr 17 17:09:52 UTC 2025: ## Mystery Illness in Maharashtra: 37 Develop Nail Deformities After Hair Loss Outbreak
**Buldhana, Maharashtra – April 17, 2025** – Thirty-seven residents of Buldhana district, Maharashtra, are suffering from nail deformities, adding a new dimension to a mysterious illness that first manifested as widespread hair loss last December. The affected individuals, all from 15 villages in Shegaon taluka, are the same people who experienced severe, unexplained hair loss in December 2024 and January 2025.
The district health officer, Dr. Amol Gite, reported that the nail deformities vary, including nail separation and curvature. While the affected individuals, spanning all age groups, are receiving calcium and multivitamin supplements, the underlying cause remains unknown. Dr. Gite noted that the nails are regrowing, mirroring the regrowth of hair experienced by many.
The possibility of exposure to metals is being investigated as a potential cause. Results from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) are pending, and are expected to shed light on the root cause of both the hair loss and the subsequent nail problems.
The incident follows the February discovery of high selenium levels in wheat distributed through ration shops in the region. Health experts now suggest a link between high selenium exposure and both hair loss (anagen effluvium) and nail deformities. All affected individuals are from low-income backgrounds, primarily involved in agriculture and contractual work.
Over 190 people initially suffered from the hair loss, prompting investigations by the ICMR-National Institute of Epidemiology and AIIMS, Delhi. Samples of hair, blood, urine, water, and scalp biopsies were collected and sent to ICMR-NIREH in Bhopal and AIIMS Delhi for analysis. No other common symptoms were found among those affected.
The affected villagers anxiously await the ICMR report, hoping it will provide answers and a solution to their ongoing health concerns.
First Piper 