Madurai: One boy died and about 300 persons were hospitalised following a "mysterious" fever that broke out at Ramarajapuram in the Nilakottai area of Dindigul district during the last few days, government hospital officials said on April 20.

They said people in the area, who consumed water from an overhead tank, complained of severe head ache and high fever.

"It is not immediately known whether the water in the tank is contaminated. We are verifying it. But the spread of the illness has been controlled," official sources said.

"Those admitted to the hospital are recovering and there is no need to panic. The blood and urine tests has been sent for further examination. We suspect it is an infection," they said.

The health department had ordered the closure of tea shops and hotels in Ramarajapuram area. District collector Senthil Kumar visited the village and was closely monitoring the preventive measures, the sources said.

PTI