Seven test positive for diphtheria

Twenty-nine others admitted to hospital for membranous tonsillitis

Seven persons from Erode district, including children, who were admitted to Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital (CMCH) with fever, have tested positive for diphtheria.

The patients are from Sathyamangalam, Puliyampatti, Thuckanaickenpalayam, Kadambur hills and Talavadi hills. They had shown symptoms of the infection such as sore throat and fever and were admitted to the hospital over the past ten days.

Tests confirmed infection due to Cornyebacterium diphtheriae, the bacteria that causes diphtheria. Twenty nine others were admitted to the hospital for membranous tonsillitis and were under observation.

Deputy Director of Health Services S. Soundammal told

The Hindu that the infected persons would be in the hospital for 15 days or till the tests reveal negative results. She said that the other persons were being monitored and would be discharged after seven days.

Recently, 16 patients, mostly children from the hilly areas in the district, were discharged from the hospital after they were kept under observation for membranous tonsillitis.

Diphtheria has caused panic among the people living in the hilly areas and in the Sathyamangalam block as two children had lost their lives.

The Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine has administered 2.5 lakh vaccines to children and adults in the district. and has asked people with fever or sore throat to immediately visit the nearest hospital for diagnosis.

Health Department officials have asked the parents to immunise their children by vaccinating them in the age of six, 10 and 14 weeks and 16 to 24 months and five years.