UP Schools Warns Of Chickenpox At Evergreen Primary

The following letter was posted on the University Place School District's website:

Important Message for Parents

February 3rd, 2011

Dear Evergreen Primary Families,

We have been informed that a student in your child’s classroom at Evergreen Primary has been diagnosed with Varicella (i.e., "Chickenpox"). I want to provide you with the following information about varicella from the Pierce County Health Department.

Chickenpox spreads from person to person by direct contact with the fluid from the blisters and through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. A person with chickenpox is most contagious 1 to 2 days before the rash appears until right after it appears. An infected person no longer spreads the virus when all the blisters have scabs and no new blisters are forming. Children with chickenpox need to be excluded from childcare or school until all the blisters have formed scabs.

If your child has had chickenpox infection in the past, they should be immune and not become ill with this exposure. Chickenpox may be prevented through vaccination. Two doses of varicella vaccine is recommended for all persons over 12 months of age without evidence of immunity.

If your child has never had chickenpox or varicella vaccine (or if you are uncertain), contact your family health care provider to discuss whether or not to have your child vaccinated. If a vaccination is given within 3-5 days of exposure, it may help to prevent the disease. If the child gets the vaccination and gets chickenpox anyway, the vaccination will not make the disease worse. If the vaccination is not available through your health care provider, he/she may request it from one of the local children’s immunizations services listed below (18 years of age and under):

                Good Samaritan 253 697-8160

                Mary Bridge 253 403-1767

                St. Joseph 253 426-6938

For more information, please contact your health care provider, or follow this link to information on the Washington State Health Department Website.http://www.doh.wa.gov/cfh/Immunize/diseases/varicella/default.htm.

Thank you for working with us to keep all our students healthy and safe at school.

John Sander, Executive Director of Special Services,

University Place School District