Guangxi villagers stricken by disease that causes strange lumps and boils to appear on the body

Around 20 villages in Yalong village of Yao minority Autonomous County, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region have been stricken by a strange disease in which lumps and boils appear all over the body, reported NetEase.

The villagers suspect that this disease could be caused by contaminated water or food consumed. Experts have primarily diagnosed the disease, given the symptoms of lumps and boils all over the villagers' legs, necks and shoulders, as Kaschin-Beck. It is a disorder of the joints and bones of the hands and fingers, elbows, knees, and ankles. It could lead to the development of stiff deformed joints and shortened limbs due to the death of joint cartilage and growth plates of bones. It largely develops from a selenium deficiency.

However, on-the-spot investigation is still required in order to confirm the disease.

Investigations show that more males suffer from this disease. Some villagers can't walk or farm as deformities have developed on their hands and feet.

While the villagers had received treatment in the hospital, the symptoms re-emerged after a short period.

Experts said they might be afflicted with Kaschin-Beck.

The villagers suspected that the water was the cause of the formation of their disease.

Water resources are severely lacking in the village. To address the water shortage issue, the government installed a water tank, and the villagers use a combination of water in the tank and rain water What the villagers use is a mixture of water from the tank and rain water.

Samples from corns, sweet potatoes, taroes, soil and water were taken to conduct further investigation, though report results have not yet been revealed.

By Lucy Liu

[Images via NetEase]