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An unvaccinated Kentucky high school student who challenged an order from state health authorities prohibiting unvaccinated school children contracted chicken pox.
In March, the Academy of Assumption of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart in northern Kentucky, founded by the family of Jerome Kunkel, the unvaccinated student, was a victim of the death penalty. an epidemic of chickenpox, pushing the state to prohibit access of unvaccinated students to school. Kunkel, whose religious beliefs prevented him from being vaccinated, sued the Northern Kentucky Department of Health, but a judge condemned him. Kunkel's lawyer, Christopher Wiest, said: "We think the judge misapplied the law and that's what the courts of appeal are for, to make sure the law is respected," adding that he would pursue the case in the Kentucky Supreme Court.
On Wednesday, Wiest acknowledged that Kunkel had contracted the disease, claiming that he had presented symptoms for the first time last week, reported NBC News. He added, "These are deep-seated religious beliefs, they are sincere beliefs, and from their point of view, they have always recognized that they run the risk of getting it, and they were disappointed." agree with that. "
As NBC News notes, "Some ultra-conservative Catholics oppose vaccination against chickenpox because it was developed in the 1960s from cell lines of two aborted fetuses."
Kunkel told WLWT: "It was a bit ridiculous because they suspended the ban for 21 days, and then they were extended longer because another child got chickenpox, so it lasted longer.To the end of the ban, In fact, I had chicken pox that should have extended the ban, but for some reason, it's not the case. "He added," Things are normal except you know, the homework I need to catch up with and that sort of thing. "
Wiest added, "The ban was stupid, he could have contracted this in March and be back to school now."
Public health officials said Mr Wiest "minimized the dangers of chickenpox".
Laura Brinson, spokesperson for the Northern Kentucky Department of Health, said: "Encouraging the spread of an acute infectious disease in a community demonstrates a flagrant disregard for the health and safety of friends, family, neighbors and the general public without suspicion "
Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin encouraged parents to vaccinate their children, although he exposed his nine children to chickenpox. He told WKCT: "We found a neighbor who had some, and I went to see if each of them had it right. They were miserable for a few days and they all did well.
According to the CDC:
Chicken pox is a highly contagious disease caused by varicella zoster virus (VZV) … Chickenpox can be serious, especially in babies, adolescents, adults, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems. The best way to prevent chickenpox is to get vaccinated. Chickenpox was very common in the United States. In the early 1990s, an average of 4 million people had contracted chickenpox, 10,500 to 13,000 had been hospitalized, and 100 to 150 would die each year. The chickenpox vaccine became available in the United States in 1995. Each year, more than 3.5 million cases of chickenpox, 9,000 hospitalizations and 100 deaths are prevented by vaccination against chickenpox in the United States.
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