The Hawaii Department of Health (DOH) is investigating an outbreak of chickenpox at Kilauea Elementary School in Kauai. Five cases have been reported as of now, including four students at the school and one household member. All five cases were not vaccinated against chickenpox.
The DOH advises the community to get vaccinated against chickenpox if they have not previously had the disease or been vaccinated against it.
Chickenpox is a highly contagious disease. The classic symptom of chickenpox is a rash that turns into itchy, fluid-filled blisters that eventually turn into scabs. The rash may first show up on the chest, back and face, before it spreads to the rest of the body.
A person with chickenpox may have as many as 500 blisters. It usually takes about one week for all of the blisters to become scabs. Shingles, a painful/itchy rash, is a late complication of chickenpox that can occur many years after infection.
While chickenpox usually will resolve on its own with supportive care, some cases have more severe symptoms and may be at risk for complications.
Chickenpox can also be serious, or even life-threatening, especially during pregnancy, in baby, adolescents, adults and people with weakened immune systems.
The chickenpox vaccine is the best protection against getting chickenpox and having severe outcomes of the disease.
Everyone, including children, adolescents and adults, should get two doses of chickenpox vaccine if they have never had chickenpox or were never vaccinated.
Most people who get the vaccine will not get chickenpox. Those few who do get chickenpox despite vaccination generally have milder symptoms than if they were unvaccinated.
If exposed to someone with chickenpox, immediately contact your healthcare provider. For more information, visit the DOH chickenpox information page at https://health.hawaii.gov/docd/disease_listing/chickenpox-varicella-zoster/
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