You are here: Home » News » Child & Youth Health » Chickenpox outbreak hits Monroe school

Chickenpox outbreak hits Monroe school

LocalHealthGuide | November 21, 2008

Varicella (Chickenpox) Virus

An outbreak of chickenpox has hit Salem Woods Elementary School in Monroe, Washington, and Snohomish Health Officials say children who have not been fully immunized against chickenpox should stay home.

To date, sixteen children have come down with the highly contagious viral infection.

“Although generally a mild illness,” said Dr. Gary Goldbaum, Health officer and Director of Snohomish Health District, “it can be severe in infants, pregnant women and people who have weakened immune systems.”

Last year, chickenpox, also called varicella, caused one death in Snohomish County, Goldbaum noted.

Officials say that students in six classrooms in all grades except first were exposed to the virus. Infected children typically develop symptoms in 10 to 21 days after exposure. Symptoms include fever, itchy rash and fatigue.

To be fully immunized, a child needs to have received two shots.

A special vaccination walk-in clinic will be held at the Providence Physician/Pediatric Clinic on Saturday, Nov. 22 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The clinic is located at 14692 179th Street S.E. in Monroe.

The vaccine is free but a $15 registration fee is required.

For details call the clinic at: 360-794-7994

Varicella vaccination is also available Monday through Friday at Snohomish Health District’s two immunizations clinics, one in Everett (425-339-5220) and the other in Lynnwood (425-775-3522).

The District’s clinics charge $26 office visit fee plus $15 for the vaccine for a total of $41 per varicella shot.

However, they offer a sliding fee scale, based on income, that can slide to as little as 10%, and payment by medical coupons, cash and check is accepted.

Photo: An electron micrograph of the Varicella virus. Photo Credit: CDC/ Dr. Erskine Palmer; B.G. Partin

To learn more:

Go to the Monroe School District website.
Visit the Salem Woods Elementary School website.
Visit the National Library of Medicine’s information page on Varicella (Chickenpox)
Visit the Washington State Department of Health’s information page on immunizations and its page for Parents and Schools.
Read the release from the Snohomish Health District sent out today Nov. 21 on the next page.

Below is the press release from the Health District about the outbreak.

SCHOOL CONTACTS:

Parent questions: Mary Myers, Assistant Director for Health Services – 360.804.2608

Website address: www.monroe.wednet.edu

Spot check: Chickenpox outbreak keeps some kids home in Monroe

16 students may be ill with varicella; unvaccinated kids told to stay home

SNOHOMISH COUNTY—Health officials have confirmed an outbreak of chickenpox (varicella) at Salem Woods Elementary School in Monroe, Washington.

To prevent further spread of the disease, the Snohomish Health District ordered the exclusion of students who are not fully immunized against chickenpox. Complete vaccination requires two shots.

“Chickenpox has a dark side,” said Dr. Gary Goldbaum, Health Officer and Director of Snohomish Health District, the county’s local public health agency. “Although it generally is a mild illness, it can be severe in infants, pregnant women, and people who have weakened immune systems. It resulted in a death in Snohomish County in 2007.”

Monroe School District notified parents on Nov. 20 that their students were exposed to varicella in six different classrooms across all grades except first grade.

The first students became ill on Oct. 20; most recently a child became sick on Nov. 16. To date, 16 children are reported sick.

Symptoms of chickenpox include an itchy rash, fever, and general fatigue. The illness starts 10 to 21 days after contact with an infected person.

A special walk-in vaccination clinic is scheduled for Sat., Nov. 22, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Providence Physician Group/ Pediatric Clinic, Suite 800, 14692 – 179th St. S.E., Monroe.

Call the clinic for details at 360.794.7994.

A $15 administration fee will be charged for each child’s shot, but the vaccine itself is free.

Varicella vaccine also is available Monday through Friday at Snohomish Health District’s two immunization clinics: 425.339.5220 (Everett); 425.775.3522 (Lynnwood).

Washington’s childhood immunizations rate of 69 percent remains behind the national average of 77 percent and the state and national goal of 80 percent coverage for the vaccination series of six vaccines, including varicella.

More information on childhood immunizations is available on the Department of Health Immunization Program Web site (www.doh.wa.gov/cfh/Immunize/); CHILD Profile (www.childprofile.org) is also available online.