MALAPPURAM: Two students, aged 14 and 13, were hospitalized due to diphtheria. Another person with diphtheria symptoms is under observation at Manjeri medical college.

Hospitalized teens are inmates of Pappinippara Yatheem Khana and students of school run by the same institution. Medical department found that they have not taken vaccines to prevent diphtheria, which should be taken before 5 years of age.

These students were entered into Manjeri medical college on January 16 with fever and throat pain. They were discharged after primary treatments. But as their sickness worsened, tests of their bodily fluids were conducted, which confirmed the disease. They were then sent to Kozhikkode medical college for expert treatment.

“Diphtheria has been confirmed in the district. Health status of the hospitalized children is satisfactory,” DMO O.K. Sakkeena said.

After the confirmation of disease, vaccination was taken for 250 students from fifth standard to 10th standard at the school of the hospitalized. However there is another educational institution in the same campus with around 500 students.

In the previous breakout of diphtheria in Malappuram, health department held intensive preventive injection campaign. The campaign faced opposition, but there are visible changes after awareness campaigns. However ignorance of parents to take preventive measures for elder students present serious challenge in reducing possibility of disease.