An outbreak of chickenpox at Thammasat University’s Rangsit campus has led to an urgent investigation by the Department of Disease Control (DDC). Classes were moved online from March 3 to 6 as a precautionary measure. The situation was triggered by a mid-February student camp linked to the spread of the virus.

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The DDC, under director-general Dr. Montien Kanasawat, was alerted on March 3, 2026, and dispatched a team to cooperate with regional health offices. The outbreak is connected to a student camp held from February 13–16 with 66 participants, which included students from various provinces. Following the camp, 13 university students and 10 school pupils reported chickenpox symptoms and received medical treatment.

The chickenpox cluster highlights the importance of enhanced health education and preventive measures. Dr. Montien emphasized that isolation alone might not suffice and more strategies might be needed. Despite the outbreak, he noted that nationwide chickenpox cases, totaling approximately 10,000 in the first two months of 2026, remain consistent with last year’s data.

Chickenpox primarily spreads through respiratory droplets and contact with infected secretions. Symptoms include rashes, blisters, and fever. While children often experience mild cases, adults may face more severe symptoms. Maintaining good hygiene, such as frequent handwashing, and opting for vaccinations are recommended preventive actions.

The Faculty of Political Science at Thammasat University announced a switch to online classes via MS Teams or Zoom as the outbreak coincides with the typical chickenpox season from January to April. The situation is under close monitoring, with additional measures to be implemented if necessary.

Experts, such as Dr. Pairoj Surattanawanich, outline the virus’s incubation period of two to three weeks. The disease starts with rashes that evolve into blisters and self-resolves as they crust over. While most cases occur in children with mild symptoms, severe complications can affect adults and vulnerable individuals, necessitating medical attention.

Home care involves rest, paracetamol for fever, and ample fluid intake. Severe symptoms or complications should prompt immediate medical evaluation. Patients are considered infectious until their blisters crust over, typically lasting six to seven days, during which isolation is advised, reported The Nation.

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  Adapted by ASEAN Now · The Nation · 04 Mar 2026

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In the 1970's we had chicken pox parties so all the kids could gain natural immunity

by fighting off the 'pox' 'naturally' buy catching the thing fighting it for a short while in most cases recovery then life long immunity.

We were inoculated at an early age and were immune for life.

14 hours ago, johng said:

In the 1970's we had chicken pox parties so all the kids could gain natural immunity

by fighting off the 'pox' 'naturally' buy catching the thing fighting it for a short while in most cases recovery then life long immunity.

That was because you had no choice in the 1970s as no vaccine had been created at that time. Many of those kids who got it back then can look forward to shingles in their later years.

7 hours ago, Hamus Yaigh said:

That was because you had no choice in the 1970s as no vaccine had been created at that time. Many of those kids who got it back then can look forward to shingles in their later years.

My brother and I had chicken pox back in the 60s. You are correct about shingles. My brother had shingles about 10 years ago. Luckily I managed to get the shingles vaccine before I could be hit with it.

I though Thai routinely vaccinated children? My Thai stepdaughter had all hers on time. Vaccines are the single most successful medical invention in human history, no other medical invention has saved more lives and reduced suffering, including antibiotics. Unfortunately there is a strong anti-vaccine movement these days, based on social media and ignorance.

When we were growing up in the 1960s & 70s, we were told that getting chickenpox as a child prevented you getting shingles as an adult. The only adults who got shingles had never had chickenpox. Anyone else remember that?

Now we're told the opposite, that you can't get shingles if you never had chickenpox!

This previously common belief likely came from the fact that you cannot get chickenpox twice. People conflated "immunity to catching chickenpox again" with "immunity to the virus altogether," not realizing the virus was simply hiding and waiting to reactivate as shingles. Proof that chickenpox and shingles were caused by the same virus wasn't established until the 1950s. While childhood chickenpox is the cause of adult shingles, regularly being around kids with chickenpox helped prevent it for many years due to boosting immune system. Now we have a vaccine for that.