Indian village with 250 sets of twins
Doctors are trying to unravel the mystery of an Indian village boasting 250 sets of twins born to just 2,000 families.
The phenomenon has seen almost six times as many twins born than the global average in the remote village of Kodinhi, in Kerala.
In
2008 alone 15 pairs of twins were born in the village out of 300
healthy deliveries and this year is expected to top that number.
In the last five years alone up to 60 pairs of twins have been born, with the rate of twins increasing year-on-year.
Local
doctor and twin enthusiast Dr Krishnan Sribiju has been studying the
medical marvel of Kodinhi for the past two years. Although 250 sets of
twins have been officially registered in the village Dr Sribiju
believes the real number to be far higher. "In my medical opinion there
are around 300 to 350 twins within the village boundaries of Kodinhi,"
he said
According
to villagers, the twin phenomenon only started occurring three
generations ago. Dr Sribiju said: "To the best of my knowledge this
medical marvel began somewhere between 60 to 70 years ago"
"Without
access to detailed biochemical analysis equipment I cannot say for
certain what the reason for the twinning is, but I feel that it is
something to do with what the villagers eat and drink"
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