Chickenpox outbreak grows, Asheville private school releases statement

BUNCOMBE COUNTY, N.C. (WLOS) — The Buncombe County Department of Health tells News 13 that 29 people now have chickenpox, 28 of whom are students at a private school in Asheville.

They say this is an outbreak investigation, saying they are working with the school to understand how many people are impacted and contain the illness.

They are not naming the school, but News 13 received a statement from Waldorf Asheville School, which says:

Buncombe County Health and Human Services recently requested information about instances of chicken pox at Asheville Waldorf School. Asheville Waldorf School has ensured that the Buncombe County Health Department received all the necessary information. Varicella is not classified as a dangerous disease by the state of Noth Carolina. Asheville Waldorf School is committed to protecting the health and safety of our community.

At the end of October, officials confirmed they were investigating after an outbreak of chicken pox at a private school in Asheville.

Buncombe County Medical Director Dr. Jennifer Mullendore said they requested information about unvaccinated students.

"At that level of an outbreak, our decision was to issue quarantine orders to all students who could not provide proof of immunity against chickenpox," said Mullendore.

The quarantine is for 21 days.

In an email obtained by News 13, Waldorf School says to parents, "We at Asheville Waldorf School recognize that the action of the Buncombe County Department of Health and Human Services is a grave concern for all of us."

BCHHS strongly urges everyone in the Asheville community to be immunized against vaccine-preventable illnesses to avoid becoming sick, spreading illness and missing days of school and work.

Chickenpox is easily passed from one person to another through the air by coughing or sneezing or through the fluid from a blister of a person who has chickenpox.

Although it is usually not a serious illness, it often causes children and their parents to miss days at school and work. Most cases of chickenpox in healthy children are treated with bed rest, fluids, and fever control.

Chickenpox can be more severe and cause more complications in immunocompromised persons, children younger than 1 year of age and adults. Severe complications include bacterial skin infections, blood stream infections, pneumonia, encephalitis (infection of the brain) and death.

BCHHS says it is important to be aware that even healthy children and adults can develop serious complications and die from chickenpox.

Another high-risk group is pregnant women who, if they become ill with chickenpox, can have pregnancy complications.

Not only is chickenpox painful, but once you have been infected with chickenpox, you are at risk of getting shingles later in life, which is very painful and can cause lasting chronic pain in adults.

Buncombe County Medical Director Dr. Jennifer Mullendore wants the community to be a part of the shield of protection that immunizations provide.

“We want to be clear: vaccination is the best protection from chickenpox. Two doses of varicella vaccine can offer significant protection against childhood chickenpox and shingles as an adult. When we see high numbers of unimmunized children and adults, we know that an illness like chickenpox can spread easily throughout the community- into our playgrounds, grocery stores, and sports teams. Unvaccinated people put others at risk, especially infants who are too young to be vaccinated or those who are medically fragile or immunocompromised. As a medical provider and a parent myself, I urge everyone in our community to get vaccinated against chickenpox,” Mullendore wrote in an official statement from Buncombe County Health and Human Services.

It takes from 10-21 days to develop symptoms after being exposed to a person with chickenpox. Most symptoms appear after 14-16 days.

Someone with chickenpox is contagious for 1 to 2 days before the rash starts. They will be contagious until all the blisters have formed scabs, usually 4 to 7 days after the rash began.

A person who has never had chickenpox or the chickenpox vaccine should get the vaccine as soon as possible after being exposed (ideally, within three days). The vaccine may prevent illness or prevent the disease from being as serious if given within this time frame.

Receiving the vaccination may also prevent future illness from chickenpox.

If your child develops symptoms of chickenpox, contact their medical provider.

To protect others, BCHHS urges residents to please call ahead if you are planning to visit any type of healthcare facility.

BCHHS recommends that parents fully vaccinate children at their health care provider’s office or at the BCHHS Immunization Clinic at 53 S. French Broad Avenue in Asheville.

The BCHHS Immunization Clinic is open Monday-Friday, from 8 a.m. -5 p.m. (it asks that clients check-in by 4:30).

Immunization requirements for students can be found on the North Carolina Immunization Program website here.

You can also call the BCHHS Immunization Clinic at (828) 250- 5096 with questions about immunizations.