Tatung University Sees Chickenpox Cluster Infection 大同大學電機系 12名學生水痘群聚感染

A chickenpox cluster infection has struck Tatung University. The school says eight of the patients are freshmen, and it's possible they were infected during an physical education course.

A chickenpox cluster infection has occurred at Tatung University's Department of Electrical Engineering. A notice was posted on the department's website reminding students to take care of their health. The department director said numerous students were confirmed to have chickenpox on Dec. 17, and the number of infected students stood at 12 as of Dec. 21. Eleven are students in the Department of Electrical Engineering, including eight freshmen, and one is a student in the Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering who was infected inside a dorm.

Yang Chu-shou, Director, Dept. of Elec. Engineering, Tatung Univ.: “He developed a rash but didn't have a fever, so he thought it was acne. Two students told us this. That's why I was surprised because pimples aren't itchy. He then discovered that the rash was itchy.”

Some students thought they had just gotten pimples, and were confirmed to have chickenpox after they sought medical treatment. The incubation period for chickenpox is two to three weeks, and people are most contagious right before the blister-like rash appears. The department director says the infection might have spread during an indoor physical education course where there was sweat.

Huang Shu-chuan, Chief Secretary, Tatung University: “If those students who have been confirmed to have chickenpox live on campus, they will be asked to go home if it's convenient. If it's inconvenient, the university has prepared isolation rooms.”

The university informed the Ministry of Education once it was confirmed that there was a chickenpox cluster infection. It also started disinfection operations. The infected students will learn virtually. Doctors say it's hard to detect chickenpox symptoms. Although one free dose of a chickenpox vaccine is available for everyone born after 2004, infections can still occur.

Lin Yin-jan, Pediatrician: “Past chickenpox vaccines are already ineffective, and people should be getting second doses to prevent infection.”

Doctors say 10 to 20 percent of people who receive one dose of the chickenpox vaccine develop breakthrough infections and recommend that adults and children alike get two doses. Meanwhile, Tatung University said it doesn't know if students are vaccinated or whether their vaccines have lost effect, so it may organize a mass vaccination.

 

大同大學電機系傳出水痘群聚感染，一早系網發公告，要求學生注意身體狀況！系主任說，17日陸續有學生回報水痘確診，到21日已有12名學生感染，其中電機系11人，一年級8人，另外一人是機械系大一生，因住宿被傳染。

系主任楊祝壽表示：「起水痘然後他也沒有發燒，所以他一開始以為是青春痘，有兩位這樣講。所以其實我也是訝異的，因為青青痘其實不會癢。但是後來他發現會癢。」

學生以為是青春痘，就診才確認是水痘，但水痘潛伏期２到３周，出水痘疹前的傳染力又最高，系主任不排除，17日的體育課在室內有流汗，造成傳染。

大同大學主秘黃淑絹表示：「確診同學如果住宿，方便回家的話就請他回去，如果不方便，我們學校有準備隔離室。」

校園水痘群聚，大同第一時間通報教育部並啟動清消，確診學生採線上課程！而醫生說，水痘症狀難查覺，加上民國93年後的新生兒雖然都有公費接種疫苗，但不是一勞永逸。

兒科醫師林應然進一步說明：「過去打的水痘疫苗已經失去效果了，應該要接種第二劑的水痘疫苗，才能預防發生水痘的突發性感染。」

林應然說，接種一劑水痘疫苗，還是可能一到兩成的突破性感染，建議大人小孩都打兩劑，而大同大學表示，不確定學生是否已接種，又或許已無效力，考慮安排團體接種。