Submitted by San Juan County

Nine school- and preschool-aged children have confirmed cases of varicella, or chickenpox, on Lopez, Orcas and Shaw islands. Additional possible cases are awaiting evaluation from health care providers within the county.

Schools have been alerted of the current outbreak. Parents are encouraged to check their child’s vaccination status and ensure their children are fully immunized against the chickenpox virus with two doses. Symptoms of chickenpox include fever, fatigue and a rash that progresses from the head to other parts of the body.

If you or your child has symptoms of chickenpox, seek medical attention and remain at home until the rash is completely gone and all the blisters are dried. This means not attending or participating in sporting events; traveling on the ferry unless staying in vehicles; or going into other community gathering places, such as libraries, stores or community centers where others may be exposed during the illness.

County staff strongly recommend against intentionally exposing any child to chickenpox. There is no guarantee the disease will run a mild course; the child’s symptoms could become more severe than intended. Second, the exposed child can infect other individuals during the incubation period, particularly vulnerable individuals — like infants, pregnant women and people with compromised immune systems. For them, the course of illness can become more serious, including possible hospitalization, and, in rare cases, even death.

Additional information and resources on varicella, and how to check immunization statuses, may be found on the San Juan County Health and Community Services website at http://sanjuanco.com/420/Immunizations. If vaccinations are not up to date, or you have questions about vaccinations or varicella, contact health care providers or San Juan County Health and Community Services at 360-378-4474.

Varicella is a highly contagious infection, and symptoms include fever, fatigue and a rash that typically progresses from the head to other parts of the body. The incubation period is 10-21 days, most commonly 14-16 days and one can be contagious from five days before the onset of the rash and continuing until lesions have crusted over (usually about five days after rash onset). Siblings have a 60-100 percent chance of becoming infected as well. Susceptible individuals should be considered infectious for up to 21 days following an exposure.

Those most vulnerable to complications of varicella are: persons older than 15 years of age who have not been vaccinated or had the infection; newborns and infants younger than 1 year; pregnant women; and people with compromised immune systems. Complications may include severe symptoms, prolonged illness, hospitalization and death. During pregnancy, varicella pneumonia can be particularly severe and maternal infection can lead to congenital abnormalities.