A viral infection outbreak at three government residential schools in Surat district has affected 150 students, with 18 girls hospitalized due to fever, officials confirmed on Sunday.
The affected schools, located within a single campus in Wadi village, Umarpada taluka, house more than 650 male and female students. Over the past three to four days, 150 students developed upper respiratory tract infections, displaying symptoms such as cough and fever, said Chief District Health Officer Dr Anil Patel.
On Saturday, 18 female students experiencing fever were admitted to a community health centre for treatment. In response, the district administration dispatched a team of more than two dozen health personnel to screen students and manage their health conditions on-site.
&ldquo;We have instructed the school authorities to isolate students with symptoms and provide them with face masks to prevent further spread of the infection. A dedicated medical team of 30 personnel is stationed at the school campus,&rdquo; Patel stated.
Jaideepsinh Rathod, principal of Sainik School&mdash;one of the three affected institutions&mdash;said students had been reporting symptoms for several days. &ldquo;We sought assistance from the local primary health centre, and after examination, 18 students were admitted for medical care,&rdquo; he added. While both boys and girls were affected by the outbreak, all those hospitalized were female students.
MLA and former tribal development minister Ganpat Vasava visited the campus and confirmed that a health team had screened the students. Authorities continue to monitor the situation and implement measures to contain the spread of the infection.

AI representation of students coughing in a classroom

Residential school students displayed symptoms such as cough and fever over the past 'three to four' days, officials said

150 Gujarat Students Ill, 18 Girls Hospitalized

Residential school students displayed symptoms such as cough and fever over the past 'three to four' days, officials said

February 9, 2025 | 17:56 IST