Around 150 students from three government residential schools in Wadi village, Umarpada taluka of Gujarat’s Surat district have been affected by a viral infection, with 18 female students hospitalised due to fever, according to a report by PTI.
Outbreak in Residential Schools
The cluster of three residential schools houses over 650 male and female students. The outbreak was first noticed when several students started complaining of cough and fever over the past few days. Jaideepsinh Rathod, the principal of Sainik School—one of the three institutions—stated that both boys and girls were affected, but all hospitalised students are girls.
Officials confirmed that the 18 female students were admitted to a community health centre on Saturday. Chief District Health Officer Dr Anil Patel said that the students were suffering from upper respiratory tract infections, with symptoms persisting for the last three to four days.
Health Measures Taken
In response, the district administration deployed a medical team of 30 personnel to the school campus for screening and monitoring. Authorities have directed the school to isolate infected students, provide face masks, and prevent the further spread of the airborne infection.
Former tribal development minister and MLA Ganpat Vasava also visited the school campus to assess the situation, confirming that the Surat district health team had screened the affected students.
Recent HMPV Case in Gujarat
In a related health concern, Gujarat recently reported a case of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV). In January, an infant from Rajasthan was found infected while receiving treatment in Gujarat. The child, from Dungarpur, Rajasthan, was admitted to a private hospital in Ahmedabad on December 24 with respiratory infection symptoms but recovered after intensive care.
Sources By Agencies
