TO PREVENT students from getting chicken pox, the Holy Child College of Davao (HCCD) has suspended their classes from December 9 to 13 on all its branches to prevent the disease from spreading.
According to HCCD Health office, the suspension aims "to arrest the possible Chicken Pox Virus outbreak and give our health officers space to apply outbreak protocols."
Engr. Ma. Chrystella Suzette I. Velasco, HCCD Head of Academic Operations, said they have received a confirmed report of a student with the illness in their Jacinto Campus.
“Thus the school will be taking measures together with City Health Authorities to control the spread of the virus in the coming days to all our campuses,” Velasco said.
Following this report, she further encouraged the parents to seek early medication should their children manifest signs and symptoms of Chicken Pox.
“We would like to take this opportunity to remind our parents to keep your child at home or see a doctor when the child develops chicken pox symptoms. We appreciate your understanding on this and if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to consult your respective Branch Head,” she further said.
The Department of Health (DOH) said the virus is caused by “varicella” virus. Its mode of transmission includes person to person by direct contact, droplet or airborne spread of fluid or secretions from persons with chickenpox, and contagious five days before and 5 days after the appearance of blisters.
The signs and symptoms of this virus are the appearance of reddish skin lesions which later become blisters on the 3rd or 4th day of fever, weakness, muscle and joint pains, and sudden onset of fever. The chickenpox rashes will disappear in 1-2 weeks’ time even without treatment.
For Prevention and control, DOH said that people must avoid crowded areas during epidemics, isolate known cases, and get vaccinated as a precautionary measure and as per doctor’s advise.
“Those who had the disease before are already immune and will not have the disease again,” the DOH said.