Chickenpox outbreak forces Thammasat faculty to extend online classes

Thammasat University’s Faculty of Political Science has extended online classes until March 23, after the number of chickenpox infections among local and visiting students rose to 26.

Earlier, the faculty announced that classes would be held online from March 3 to 6 due to a chickenpox outbreak among students but, on the faculty’s Facebook page today, it said that undergraduate classes at the Rangsit campus in Pathum Thani province will continue to be conducted online until March 23.

All activities involving large gatherings are also suspended until the situation improves, except essential events at which strict preventive measures and careful screening of participants can be implemented.

Students have been advised to be aware of early symptoms, such as fever, rash or fluid-filled blisters. Anyone experiencing such symptoms or suspecting infection should inform the faculty immediately.

The faculty said it is closely monitoring the situation, with support from relevant medical authorities.

The infections are believed to have originated from a student camp, arranged by faculty students between February 13th and 16th.

On February 14, during camp activities, a participating school student developed itchy blisters. Camp organisers took the student to see a doctor, where the illness was diagnosed as chickenpox.

The student’s parents were alerted and picked the student up later that same day.

On March 1 and 2, several student organisers developed symptoms, prompting the faculty to implement control measures.

By the morning of March 5, the total number of infections linked to the camp had reached 26, including 15 faculty students and 11 participating school students.

On March 4, the faculty held a meeting between its personnel and health officials from provincial health offices and the Epidemiology Department of Thammasat University Hospital to discuss the outbreak.

During the meeting, all parties reviewed the faculty’s previous measures for handling the chickenpox outbreak and considered additional guidelines, to ensure more thorough implementation and to help bring the situation under control.

On the same day, the faculty sprayed disinfectant in classrooms, restrooms, common areas and office spaces on both the Tha Prachan and Rangsit campuses.

In addition, regular cleaning of frequently touched points inside faculty buildings, such as doorknobs, microphones, keyboards, elevator buttons and light switches, has been increased to at least four times per day.

The faculty said it will continue closely monitoring the health situation in coordination with relevant medical authorities.