1 case of chickenpox reported at East Elementary on Jan. 25
1 case of chickenpox reported at East Elementary on Jan. 25
The Waynesville R-VI School District announced today, Jan. 25, 2019, that East Elementary has had one medically diagnosed case of chickenpox.
The district has been working closely with local health officials and are following their recommendations. Students are being reminded of the importance of good hand-washing techniques and to practice good hygiene.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that the chickenpox vaccine is very safe and effective at preventing the disease. Most people who get the vaccine will not get chickenpox. If a vaccinated person does get chickenpox, it is usually mild—with fewer blisters and mild or no fever. The chickenpox vaccine prevents almost all cases of severe disease.
At this point, the local health department is not advising exclusion from school for those students not vaccinated for chicken pox. However, should additional cases arise, exclusion from school is a possibility. Should an outbreak occur, students with exemptions would have 2 options: 1) Get vaccinated or 2) Be excluded from school for a minimum of 21 days (the exclusion starts over with each subsequent case that is diagnosed).
The classic symptom of chickenpox is a rash that turns into itchy, fluid-filled blisters that eventually turn into scabs. The rash may first show up on the face, chest, and back then spread to the rest of the body, including inside the mouth, eyelids, or genital area. It usually takes about one week for all the blisters to become scabs.
Other typical symptoms that may begin to appear 1-2 days before rash include fever, tiredness, loss of appetite and headache.
A person with chickenpox can spread the disease from 1 to 2 days before they get the rash until all their chickenpox blisters have formed scabs (usually 5-7 days). It takes about 2 weeks (from 10 to 21 days) after exposure to a person with chickenpox or shingles for someone to develop chickenpox.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommendation and guidelines state that the best way to prevent chickenpox is to get the chickenpox vaccine. Children, adolescents, and adults should have two doses of the chickenpox vaccine.
For people exposed to chickenpox, call a health care provider if the person:
• has never had chickenpox disease
and is not vaccinated with the
chickenpox vaccine
• has a weakened immune system
caused by disease or medication; for
example,
o People with HIV/AIDS or cancer
o Patients who have had
transplants, and
o People on chemotherapy,
immunosuppressive
medications, or long-term use of
steroids
• is pregnant
"Issued January 25, 2019"