City-Cowley County Health Department and USD 465 are cooperating on a response to several reported cases of chicken pox (varicella) in school-aged children in Winfield. In past years, chicken pox has been considered a rite of passage for children. Chicken pox is now considered a vaccine preventable disease.

As of Thursday, the only reported cases have been in elementary students, but with a 10-21 day incubation period, older siblings may begin to develop chicken pox over the next few weeks as well.

Children with chicken pox are most contagious before they develop symptoms which may include a rash, fever, mild cough, runny nose, or headache. Chicken pox is spread by direct contact with the rash or through the air from an infected person’s coughing or sneezing.

All children entering kindergarten were recommended to have had two doses of the chicken pox vaccine.

The recommended two-dose vaccine does not prevent chicken pox in all cases but children who have had both vaccinations are three times less likely to get chicken pox than those who have had only one dose. The vaccine almost always prevents severe cases of chicken pox, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

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Six Mattanawcook Academy, Mattanawcook Junior High and Ella P. Burr Elementary School students have been diagnosed with the mild but very contagious disease, Superintendent Michael Marcinkus said.

Officials sent a letter to parents seeking student vaccination records or medical histories. Students who can’t show they have been vaccinated or had the chickenpox might be barred from school for 16 days, as required by state law. School officials are considering a temporary inoculation program, but if that happens, it won’t occur until next week, the superintendent said.

“The health and safety of all students and employees is our main concern,” Marcinkus said Thursday.

The outbreak was discovered Wednesday among three siblings — two at Burr, one at Mattanawcook Junior High. One case was discovered at school, while the others were identified later, Marcinkus said.

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04-Jan 10:00
A scouting jamboree in Christchurch, NZ. is being plagued by a second wave of norovirus and several cases of chickenpox.

The 18th jamboree, which wraps up tomorrow, is playing host to around three-thousand scouts – and a nasty bout of norovirus.

Earlier this week 55 people were suffering from the highly contagious bug – but health authorities and scout organisers were hopeful a quick response had stopped the spread.

But Canterbury medical officer of health Alistair Humphrey says the makeshift hospital tents are filling up again with around 20 potential sufferers.

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From the Daily Mail news article

New father, 37, dies after catching chicken pox

A new father has died after catching the common children’s virus chickenpox at the age of 37.

University technician Geraint Hughes had been ill for a week after catching the virus, but doctors warned his wife that chickenpox can be serious for adults – but is rarely fatal.

However Geraint, who had an 18-month-old baby, died after developing complications.

His wife Rebecca, 31, and their 18-month-old baby daughter were being cared for by relatives at their home in Aberystwyth, West Wales.

Pub landlord Martin Dickinson, who was best man at Geraint’s wedding five years ago, said: “Nobody can believe what has happened really.

“Everybody is in shock and heartbroken and devastated by the news. He was a great guy and very down to earth.”

Geraint worked as a technician in the Institute of Geography and Earth Sciences at at Aberystwyth University.

Michael Woods, acting director at the institute, said: “We are shocked and saddened.

“Geraint was a much valued member of the institute who had, over 19 years, come to play a central role in the life and work of the department.<!–adsensestart–>

“His good humour, professionalism and willingness to help will be greatly missed. Our thoughts are with his family.”

Chickenpox in adults can cause bacterial infections leading to potentially fatal conditions, such as toxic shock syndrome, but only 20 adults, mostly the elderly, die from the disease in England and Wales each year.

The family do not know how Geraint contracted chickenpox but it is believe no other relative had also been affected.

A post mortem examination has been held and an inquest opened by the Ceredigion Coroner. Geraint’s funeral is due to be held on Saturday.