Surveillance to identify source of selenium that led to hair loss

After mysterious hair-and nail loss was reported in Buldhana between December 2024 and April 2025 and subsequent testing of foodgrain, water and soil samples revealed elevated selenium levels as the likely cause of this anomaly, the state health department has now started surveillance to identify the source of selenium that led to the hair- and nail-loss among people in the district.

- Vicky Pathare

PUNE: Furthermore, patients visiting healthcare facilities across the district are being monitored for similar symptoms, officials said on Sunday.

According to officials, as many as 297 cases of mysterious hair loss were reported between December 2024 and February 2025 in 18 villages of Buldhana. Later in mid-April 2025, nail loss was reported in 76 out of the 297 cases. These cases were reported in Kathora, Kalwad, Shegaon, Machhindrakhed and Nandora villages of Buldhana.