Chickenpox outbreak affects 38 Clark County students

This undated photo from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows chickenpox, or varicella, lesions, on a child who had not been vaccinated against the highly contagious virus. (Photo via the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

A primary school in Washington says it's discovered a chickenpox outbreak and has asked parents to keep affected students home.

In a letter to parents Thursday, Battle Ground Public Schools announced that students at Daybreak Primary School were exposed to the disease between Oct. 13 and Oct. 17. The letter tells parents of children who haven't been vaccinated against chickenpox to keep their kids home for 21 days after the most recent exposure, or until Nov. 12.

The Columbian reports the outbreak affects 38 students.

Children with documented immunization against varicella, the virus that causes chickenpox, can return to school as normal on Monday, the district said.

Approximately 7.5 percent of Clark County K-12 students received vaccination exemptions for medical, religious or personal reasons for the 2017-18 school year, the county health department reports.

 

--Eder Campuzano | 503.221.4344
ecampuzano@oregonian.com

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