Chicken pox outbreak reported at school in Walton, Kentucky

Kentucky health officials reported a chickenpox outbreak at a school in the town of Walton.

There are currently 32 cases to students of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart / Assumption Academy to date.

"Although we have been working with the school to contain the diseases since February," said Dr. Lynne Saddler, District Health Director of the Northern Kentucky Health Department, "the health department has recently seen a worrying increase of the number of students infected. at school, which prompted us to take other control measures at school and to inform the public that chickenpox may be present in the community. "

Due to the continued increase in the number of cases and to prevent the spread of this disease, the Northern Kentucky Department of Health has ordered that all students without evidence of vaccination or evidence of varicella immunity be allowed to go to school only 21 days after the appearance of a rash at the last student or member of the sick staff.

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In addition, all school events and extracurricular activities involving other schools or the public will continue to be canceled until 21 days after the onset of rash in the home. last student or member of the sick staff. These events include all cases where students of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart / Academy of the Assumption go to other schools / public areas, or the public / other schools are visiting. to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart / Academy of the Assumption. Events include, but are not limited to, sporting events (including home and outdoor games), fairs, festivals, musical events, and so on.

Parents of students were also asked to monitor the symptoms of their children throughout the epidemic and to minimize contact with other members of the community, especially avoiding infants, pregnant women and immunocompromised people.

Chickenpox (chickenpox) is easily transmitted by air through the air by coughing or sneezing or by the liquid from the blister of a person with chickenpox. Although it is not usually a serious illness, children and their parents are often deprived of days at school and at work. Most cases of chicken pox in healthy children are treated with bed rest, fluid intake, and fever control.

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Chickenpox can be more serious and cause more complications in immunocompromised individuals, children under 1 year of age and adults. Serious complications include bacterial infections of the skin, blood infections, pneumonia, encephalitis (brain infection) and death.

It is important to know that even healthy children and adults can develop serious complications and die from chicken pox. Pregnant women are another high-risk group. If they get chickenpox, they can have complications during pregnancy. Chickenpox is not only painful, but once you have chickenpox, you may develop shingles later in life, which is also very painful and can cause persistent chronic pain in adults.

The chickenpox vaccine is the best way to prevent diseases and the spread of the chickenpox virus. It is very safe and prevents almost all cases of serious illness.