A bizarre health crisis has gripped several villages in India, where people are rapidly losing their hair and going completely bald within just three days. The bald virus has left authorities baffled and villagers deeply distressed.

Villagers affected by the bald virus first experience itching around the scalp, followed by extreme hair loss.

The epidemic, dubbed the “Bald Virus,” hit 15 villages in the Shegaon subdivision of Buldhana district in Maharashtra, India.

The initial reports came from Bondgaon, Kalwad, and Hingna villages and later spread to other villages.

As of 10 January 2025, more than 150 villagers have been documented to be affected by the malady. The unofficial number, according to locals, is around 300, but women are reluctant to come forward and report.

The condition typically begins with intense itching on the scalp, quickly escalating to hair falling out in clumps. Some people, including children, become completely bald in less than a week.

Even those who don’t turn completely bald are choosing to shave their head to at least look presentable.

While the exact cause of this outbreak is still unknown, theories include fungal infections, nutritional deficiencies, and reactions to cosmetic products.

Poor quality water in the Purna River basin area is also under investigation since many of the 15 villages are located in and around it. Authorities are suspicious that contaminated water could be a factor.

The Groundwater Survey and Development Agency in Buldhana has tested water samples from different sources in the affected areas. While most samples didn’t contain harmful substances, elevated levels of nitrate were detected in 14 out of the 31 tested samples.

A preliminary report has ruled out fungal infection as the cause of the baldness outbreak.

Dermatologists and microbiologists are actively surveying the region and collecting blood samples from affected villagers. Despite testing more than 65 samples, researchers remain unable to pinpoint the source of the problem.

Food safety officials have also stepped in, investigating local cosmetic products for potential contamination. However, no evidence has been found to link these products to the outbreak.

According to a media report, samples of hair, scalp, and nails from those afflicted have shown no signs of fungal infection. As this is only a preliminary report, researchers await more detailed results to definitively rule out fungal infection.

While health experts continue to investigate this puzzling phenomenon, Primary Healthcare Centers (PHCs) in the region offer symptomatic treatment to those affected. Villagers, however, remain on edge, fearing the unexplained condition might worsen or spread further.