San Diego, CA: Chickenpox outbreak

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2008/04/03/news/sandiego/4229681e769eab738825742000144cd0.txt

Officials remind parents to vaccinate after chickenpox outbreak
| Thursday, April 3, 2008 12:04 AM PDT ∞

SAN DIEGO COUNTY ---- County health officials are reminding parents to vaccinate children against chickenpox after five Carmel Valley students were diagnosed with the virus.

Four of the students diagnosed at the Sycamore Ridge School in the Del Mar Union School District had received one dose of the vaccine, while one had received two doses, county officials said. None of the children needed to be hospitalized.

Parents of children at the school were informed of the outbreak and told to make sure their children were properly vaccinated, officials said.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends two doses of chickenpox vaccine �? the first at 12 to 15 months of age, the second at 4 to 6 years. For those who are older and only had one dose, a second dose is recommended. Ninety-five percent of people develop immunity after two doses, officials said, and those who contract the disease usually experience milder symptoms.

Symptoms of chickenpox include a blister-like rash and fever.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: San Diego, CA: Chickenpox outbreak

Source: http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20080404-1713-bn04pox.html

Second school hit by chickenpox outbreak
5:13 p.m. April 4, 2008

SAN DIEGO ? Five students at a Solana Beach middle school have been diagnosed with chickenpox, the second outbreak at a local school this week, county health officials said Friday.

The students attend Earl Warren Middle School. Four of them had one dose of chickenpox vaccine; the other student was not vaccinated. Two doses of the vaccine are recommended, said Dr. Wilma Wooten, county public health officer.

On Wednesday, five students at Sycamore Ridge Elementary School in Carmel Valley were diagnosed with chickenpox. Four of the students had at least one dose of vaccine and the fifth student had two doses.

None of the students at either school were hospitalized.

Chickenpox is a highly contagious disease spread by coughing, sneezing or contact with chickenpox blisters. Symptoms, including blisters, begin 10 to 21 days after exposure and last five to 10 days.