13 students afflicted with chickenpox

Satinder Pal Singh

Zirakpur, December 12

As many as 13 students have been reportedly affiliated with chickenpox at Madarsa Syed Aadm, near Banur village, raising fear of an epidemic in the locality here. Sources said all children in the grip of the disease were in the age group of 6-12 years.

The Health Department said as per the survey and case history, the first case of chickenpox was reported on November 11. The child was sent back to his native place in Saharanpur.

A team of the Health Department after screening the students on Monday found that 13 students out of 41 enrolled in the madarsa were infected with the disease. The affected students have been identified as six-year-old Nahid, Wasif (8), Naseem (11), Tarshif (10), Muzakikin (8), Zurbrin (7), Tanish (7), Abu Zar (12), Zahir (12), Aarif (12), Saif (8), Mohd Aarif (7) and Musharif (7).

A teacher from the madarsa took them to the Civil Hospital, Banur, and came to know that the students were suffering from chickenpox. The hospital authorities soon informed the Civil Surgeon at Mohali and then the information was passed on to the district epidemiologist, who reached the area with a rapid response team.

Madarsa principal Mohammad Shahzad said, “All affected students were discharged from the Civil Hospital after getting supportive treatment and have been shifted to a separate room as a precautionary measure.”

Harpreet Oberoi, SMO, Banur, said, “The children had complained of redness, itchy rashes on the skin spreading to almost everywhere on the body. But no case of high fever was reported following which they were discharged after the treatment.”

Rita Bhardwaj, Civil Surgeon, Mohali, told The Tribune that she had sent a team comprising district epidemiologists and health workers to the school.

Meanwhile, a four-year-old girl from Peer Muchalla reportedly suffering from chickenpox was brought to the CHC Dhakoli on Tuesday. Sources said the girl had complained of rashes with fever.