Eight students living in a dormitory of the Magzhan Zhumabaev Higher College in Petropavlovsk have been hospitalized with a preliminary diagnosis of dermatophytosis of the skin of the trunk — a fungal infection commonly known as ringworm, according to infohub.kz.
An emergency notification about the eight patients was received on September 25 from the multidisciplinary regional hospital by the Petropavlovsk Sanitary and Epidemiological Control Department.
Anara Kurganbaeva, head of the department's epidemiological control division, said all those affected live on the same floor of the dormitory. Their rooms are adjacent, and the students had close household contact with one another.
The diagnosis is currently being confirmed. Laboratory testing of pathological material is underway at the dermatology and venereology dispensary.
An epidemiological investigation has been launched at the college and dormitory. Specialists are working to identify the source of the infection and possible routes of transmission.
Terminal disinfection has been carried out in the dormitory and at the places of residence of those affected. Anti-epidemic measures are also planned at the college.
After treatment is completed, doctors will monitor the patients for one month. During this period, they will undergo laboratory tests twice to monitor their condition.
Earlier, Kursiv Health reported on three students in Karaganda who were diagnosed with tuberculosis.