SAN DIEGO–Six students at San Diego Cooperative Charter School’s Linda Vista campus have been diagnosed with chickenpox (varicella), the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency reported today.
The first student reported illness on March 7 and the latest student diagnosed became symptomatic on April 20. The incubation period for chickenpox is generally 14 to 16 days from exposure, with a range of 10-21 days, so additional cases may be reported through May 11.
The children diagnosed range in age from 5 through 8 years old. One child received the age-appropriate recommended dose of the varicella vaccine, but the other five children were not immunized.
The school notified students and staff about the outbreak, as well as the staff at their Mountain View campus location because students and staff travel between campuses.
Chickenpox is a preventable disease,” said Wilma Wooten, M.D., M.P.H., County public health officer. “By having their children immunized with the recommended two doses of the vaccine, parents can help their children avoid chickenpox and prevent it from spreading to others, especially to those who are unable to be vaccinated due to serious medical conditions, and who could become very ill if infected with chickenpox.”
This outbreak brings the total to 16 cases of chickenpox reported in San Diego County so far in 2016. Chickenpox is not reportable to the County public health department unless it occurs in an outbreak or results in a hospitalization or death.
Chickenpox is a highly contagious disease caused by the varicella virus. The disease is easily spread by coughing, sneezing or being in contact with chickenpox blisters.
Symptoms of chickenpox include a skin rash of blister-like lesions, covering the body but usually more concentrated on the face, scalp and trunk. The risk of complications increases after puberty and includes bacterial infection of skin lesions, dehydration and pneumonia.
Most, but not all, infected individuals have fever, which develops just before or when the rash appears. If exposed, persons who have been vaccinated against the disease may get a milder illness, with less severe rash and mild or no fever. The illness lasts about 5-10 days.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends two doses of chickenpox vaccine. Children should be vaccinated at 12-15 months of age and receive the second dose at 4-6 years of age.
For more information on chickenpox and immunizations in general, call the HHSA Immunization Branch at (866) 358-2966, or visit the website at www.sdiz.org.
