In accordance with Updated Guidelines for Chickenpox Outbreak Prevention and Control for School and Childcare Settings by the State of Connecticut Departments of Education and Public Health: "The varicella zoster virus (VZV) causes chickenpox (varicella), a vaccine preventable, generalized rash illness. VZV can also cause shingles (herpes zoster), a localized rash in a person who has already had chickenpox. People who have never had chickenpox can develop chickenpox after being exposed to a person with chickenpox or shingles. A person is considered to have immunity to chickenpox if he or she has had the disease or received the varicella (chickenpox) vaccine." 2016
Children or staff with chickenpox should be excluded from school and may return to school once their rash has scabbed.
If your child does develop chickenpox, he/she should be kept from attending school until the rash has scabbed over, and a statement confirming the chickenpox diagnosis should be faxed from the physician to the school nurse.
This is true even if your child was previously vaccinated. Please help us to protect your child and stop the spread of chickenpox in our schools.
State of Connecticut Department of Public Health Chickenpox Fact Sheet
CDC Chickenpox Information
Shingles
"Almost 1 out of every 3 people in the United States will develop shingles, also known as zoster or herpes zoster, in their lifetime. There are an estimated 1 million cases of shingles each year in this country. Anyone who has recovered from chickenpox may develop shingles; even children can get shingles. However the risk of shingles increases as you get older. About half of all cases occur in men and women 60 years old or older. Shingles is caused by the varicella zoster virus (VZV), the same virus that causes chickenpox. After a person recovers from chickenpox, the virus stays dormant (inactive) in the body. For reasons that are not fully known, the virus can reactivate years later, causing shingles." CDC 2016
State of Connecticut Department of Public Health Shingles Fact Sheet
CDC Shingles Information
