TERRE HAUTE —
Officials confirmed Wednesday the outbreak of chickenpox in one local elementary school, with individual cases reported in others.
The Vigo County Health Department issued a statement informing the public that five cases of chickenpox have been confirmed at Farrington Grove Elementary, reaching the threshold of an outbreak. Last week, individual cases were reported there, as well as Fayette and Terre Town elementary schools, Woodrow Wilson and Sarah Scott middle schools and the Indiana State University Child Care Center.
Danny Tanoos, superintendent of the Vigo County School Corp., said that school officials immediately issued a phone notification to parents.
“As soon as we were notified we became very proactive,” he said.
According to Joni Wise, administrator of the Vigo County Health Department, an outbreak is defined as five or more cases involving children under the age of 13, or three or more cases in children over 13. The Indiana State Department of Health, Vigo County Health Department and the school corporation are presently formulating a plan to immunize at least 52 students at Farrington Grove Elementary, as well as some staff.
Ray Azar, director of student services, said schools were working to tabulate the number of students and staff potentially at risk.
“We’ve made tremendous strides in the school corporation and the community as a whole in getting kids up to date on their immunizations,” he said, noting some students will be required to get vaccinated or risk being excluded from the facility.
According to a statement issued by Wise, children who have had no shots against chickenpox will be excluded if their parent or guardian refuses to allow the vaccination. Children who have had one shot will also be excluded if the parent or guardian refuses to allow a second shot. Children who have had both shots, or are willing to get them, will not be excluded, nor will those who have had a documented case of chickenpox.
Wise said the exclusion period could be in excess of 21 days.
“We’re always on our toes for any type of outbreak,” she said, encouraging parents to have their children vaccinated. Those immunizations are one of the 10 reasons people today live an average of 25 years longer than those of prior generations, she remarked.
Azar said the corporation is working with health officials to provide vaccine clinics in the schools. The number of students already immunized is more than double what it was in prior years, he said, crediting a community-wide effort that end. The relatively few refusals they get from parents are typically made on religious grounds, he said.
Brian Boyce can be reached at 812-231-4253 or brian.boyce@tribstar.com.
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