Case of chickenpox reported at Martha's Vineyard Public Charter School. What we know.
Martha's Vineyard health officials are conducting contact tracing after a reported case of chickenpox was discovered at the Martha's Vineyard Public Charter School in West Tisbury.
“We are working in collaboration with the board of health and the school on a solution to address potential exposure to students,” said Claire Seguin, Martha’s Vineyard Hospital chief nurse and vice president of operations, in a press release issued by the hospital on Friday.
Two more suspected cases are also being investigated. Hospital communications manager Gregory Mathis said he would check with the West Tisbury Board of Health on Tuesday for an update, as Monday is a holiday.
Parents will be notified if their child was exposed.
The disease, which is also called varicella, is usually mild, but can be serious in infants under a year old, adolescents, adults, pregnant people, and people with a weakened immune system. The classic symptom is an itchy rash that usually lasts about a week, as well as fever, feeling tired, loss of appetite and headache.
According to the Infectious Diseases Society of America, chickenpox cases have decreased by 97% since the U.S. began vaccinating all children against the disease in 1995. Among those under 20, hospitalizations decreased by 97% and deaths decreased by 99% compared to before the vaccine was available.
Sequin called vaccination the best way to avoid chickenpox.
“Vaccines help bring the spread of chickenpox, and other infectious diseases, under control,” Seguin said. “Low vaccination rates introduce a vulnerability.”
Zane Razzaq writes about housing and real estate. Reach her at zrazzaq@capecodonline.com. Follow her on Twitter @zanerazz.
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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Chickenpox at Martha's Vineyard school: Contact tracing underway
