GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – The Centers for Disease Control says chickenpox is a highly contagious disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus and it can cause an itchy, blister-like rash.
“Some of the symptoms that’ll show up will be like fever, malaise where they’re, kind of, feeling tired. Some get a sore throat. Some just aren’t feeling very well.”
Dr. Stephen Cruz, with Bellin Health’s De Pere office, tells FOX 11 after those symptoms, it could take one to two days before a rash develops.
“You’re actually most infectious within the first one or two days before the rash appears so that makes it a little tough.”
On Monday, the Brown County Health and Human Services Department sent a letter to parents with children at MacArthur Elementary School.
The letter says in part “…there has been a probable case of chickenpox…” at the school and offers tips on what to look for if a child may have been exposed to the disease.
The chickenpox vaccine is on the list of required immunizations for the Green Bay Area Public School District.
“The best way to prevent chickenpox for kids is to get the vaccinations. Usually, the first vaccine is going to be between 12 to 15 months and the second one will be 4 to 6 years of age,” Cruz said.
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services shows fluctuating numbers over the past few years for children in the northeastern region who received one or more doses of the chickenpox vaccine.
In 2016: 86.08% received one or more doses of the vaccine
In 2017: 86.19% received one or more doses of the vaccine
In 2018: 85.31% received one or more doses of the vaccine
Cruz says these days you don’t hear too much about chickenpox.
“Before we started doing the vaccines there were like 4 million cases annually and now it’s like… it’s down to like maybe 500,000 at the most. So pretty uncommon,” Cruz said.
A week ago, health officials reported nearly 50,000 children in Wisconsin have vaccination waivers as the school year gets underway.
However, Cruz recommends vaccines as the best way to help prevent chickenpox and other diseases.
“Our vaccines are very effective against it that’s why we push them.”
Click here to see an interactive map showing vaccination rates within Wisconsin school districts.
