Lausanne hotel management school closed due to measles outbreak
Published: Friday, Feb 2nd 2024, 17:20
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The campus of the Lausanne School of Hotel Management (EHL) will remain closed until February 18 due to several cases of measles infection. Since mid-January, six students have contracted measles and around 20 others have shown symptoms.
Due to these developments and the instructions of the cantonal doctor, the EHL campus in Lausanne had to be closed, according to a statement published on the hotel management school's website on Friday. "We have a responsibility to take all possible measures to limit any possible spread and, after careful consideration, the closure of the campus is the best guarantee of this," the head of the EHL Group, Markus Venzin, is quoted as saying.
Students who remain on campus during the closure will mainly be accommodated in the halls of residence, according to the press release. They will be taught online. According to information on the website, around 3,950 people are currently enrolled as students at EHL. Just under 1000 of these live on campus.
Call for vaccination
The cantonal health department has now ordered a check of the measles vaccination status of all students, staff and teaching staff currently on campus, it added. EHL recommends that all students and staff check their vaccination status and get vaccinated if necessary, as well as limiting social interactions in the coming days, especially with people at risk.
The aim is to reopen the campus for the new semester on February 19 without delay.
Fever and rash
Measles is a very contagious viral infectious disease. It is transmitted by droplets, for example when infected people cough or sneeze. Infected people usually initially have a fever, cough, runny nose and inflammation of the nasopharynx, followed by a rash.
Every tenth person affected suffers complications, including life-threatening inflammation of the brain. Measles can be prevented with two doses of vaccine.
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