Hostel shuts due to chickenpox threat

KOCHI: The hostel of paramedical students in Ernakuklam medical college has shut following seven chickenpox cases reported in the last one week. The hostel will remain closed till May 31.
The hostel was closed on Tuesday following Kalamassery municipality officials asked college authorities to close the hostel immediately. The first chickenpox case was reported week ago and it was spreading other students in the hostel.
Dr S Ahwini Kumar, college principal said, “Chickenpox is airborne disease.As the students in the hostel behave closely, the disease spreads fast. The medical college office is functioning near the hostel. We have taken special measures to clean the office building and the hostel. We have asked to wash the dress of students immediately”.
There are 45 students in the hostel. The students follow Diploma in Medical Laboratory Technology (DMLT), Diploma in Radiotherapy Technics (DRT) and Diploma in Operation Technology (DOT).
While district medical officer Dr N K Kuttappan said there is no chance to declare the seven case as epidemic since it was reported in a hostel. “We should be more care about chickenpox when it is reported in aged people as it may turn into pneumonia. In Ernakulam Dengue fever is reported in more people and we have taken steps to control it”.