The Lord Fairfax Health District is working with the Page County School system and local health care providers and hospitals to control an outbreak of chickenpox, or varicella.

Nine children in Stanley Elementary and six at Luray Elementary have contracted chickenpox since the end of March. The health district is working with Page County Superintendent Dr. Randy Thomas and the principals of the Page County Schools to identify the precise extent of the outbreak and how to address it.

Because there is an outbreak, and not just a few cases, public health officials have advised that all students and staff at Stanley Elementary who have received only one varicella vaccination should receive a second dose.

Virginia law requires that one dose be given before school entry; a second dose is recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices for general use.

“The second dose of vaccination is very helpful in preventing the further spread of the chickenpox outbreak in affected schools,” says Stephen A. Haering, MD, MPH, director of the Lord Fairfax Health District.

The chickenpox vaccination is available at the Page County office of the Lord Fairfax Health District.

Chickenpox is usually not a serious illness, but it often causes children to miss school. In some cases, varicella may be more serious, especially in newborns, adults, and people with compromised immune systems. Chickenpox is a virus that can easily pass from person to person through the air or by touching the fluid in one of the blisters.

“Persons who contract chickenpox generally experience a couple of days of fever, sore throat and headache, followed by an itchy rash and red spots or blisters then develop and affect the entire body,” says Haering. “A person with chickenpox can infect others even two to three days before the rash develops.”

Haering cautions that infected persons will continue to spread the virus until all the blisters have crusted over.

Officials are stating that persons with chickenpox should remain home, and not go to school, work, or attend public events, until all of the blisters have crusted over. Haering emphasizes general hygiene, stating that all people should wash their hands frequently; should cough into their elbow (not their hand); and should not share eating utensils, glasses or other personal items (such as lip balm, toothbrushes, etc.).

If you think you or your child has contracted varicella, call your doctor. Healthy children with symptoms of varicella may not need to be seen. A call to your doctor will determine if your child should be seen and will allow the doctor’s office to put your child in a separate waiting area on arrival.

Calling ahead of time will minimize the chance of spreading it to others. For more information contact your health care provider or officials at the Lord Fairfax Health Department:

Page County public health nurses, 540-743-6528
Travis Carr, MPH District Epidemiologist, 540-722-3480, ext 229
April Jenkins, RN District Nurse Manager, 540-722-3470 ext 107
Stephen A. Haering, MD, MPH, District Health Director, 540-722-3480

On Monday, there will be a chickenpox vaccination clinic at the Page County Health Department from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. These vaccinations will be free.