Chickenpox ( Varicella)

Several children in Room 7 and the wider school community have had or are curently sick with chickenpox. Please monitor your child's health.

 Chickenpox (varicella) is a common, highly contagious, viral infectious disease of childhood.
Usually mild, it’s characterised by a very itchy rash that can spread over the whole body. The varicella-zoster virus is transmitted through direct contact with the chickenpox blisters, by airborne droplets when coughing or sneezing, or through contact with infected items of clothing or bedding. Your risk of catching the virus increases if you have been in the same room as a person with chickenpox for 15 minutes or you were in close contact, for example, face to face, with an infected person.

 The incubation period is seven to 21 (usually 10 to 21) days after exposure to the herpes varicella-zoster virus to the development of the symptoms. The disease is most contagious a day or two before the rash appears and until the rash is completely dry and scabbed over, about five to six days after onset of the rash.

 Who is at risk of chickenpox?
 Anyone who has not had chickenpox.
Anyone who is not vaccinated against varicella-zoster virus.
Young children (under 10 years).