20 students in Chhota Udepur down with cold

Panic gripped Bopa village of Chhota Udepur taluka after 20 students of a residential ashram were rushed to the primary health centre out of fear of a measles outbreak.

It all began last week when a six-year-old girl staying in the residential ashram had an attack of measles. But due to lack of proper medication,two other students in the same class contracted the infection. Later,on Friday night,over 20 other students in the hostel were down with severe cough and cold.

On a visit to the school,the district health officials pointed out medical negligence on the part of the ashram staff in controlling the outbreak.

We have checked all the children in the hostel. Three of them have been suffering from measles,while the others have common cough and cold. However,proper medical care,which should have been taken in the ashram for these children,was not taken, said R V Patel,District Reproductive Child Health (RCH) Officer.

He added,The affected children should have been isolated at an early stage to prevent the infection from spreading, .

Three of the affected students have been admitted in the nearest primary health centre on Saturday,while others suffering from cough and cold have been kept under observation in the ashram.

The village ashram has classes I to VII. The school at present has over 120 students who stay in the residential hostel. All the students come from nearby villages of Chhota Udepur.

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