A Class VIII student has been admitted to the Medical College Hospital, Thrissur, with symptoms of diphtheria.
The student from Elavally panchayat, near Ponnani, was admitted to a hospital in Edappal with severe throat pain and fatigue, later he was referred to the MCH.
Diphtheria can be prevented by vaccination. Failure in taking vaccination was the reason for the infection, health officials said. The student had not taken any preventive vaccines, they said.
The Health Department has initiated preventive measures in the panchayat. The department has arranged preventive vaccination in the area.
There is a steep increase in fever cases in the district. A special medical team has been constituted at the MCH to look into such cases.