Notes to Parents

March 15, 2011

NOTES TO PARENTS:

February 24, 2012

Dear Parent/Guardian,

Yesterday I received a call from a local physician’s office letting me know that they had seen 3 confirmed cases of Chicken pox in the past week, all students of Marshfield Junior High.

Chicken Pox is a viral infection that 15 years ago we saw a lot at school. Varicella vaccination became available and then required for school age children, so we have seen less and less of it. The Missouri law for immunizations for Varceilla vaccination is required for students in 5th grade and under. It is not a REQUIRED vaccination for 6th grade and up.
If your child has never received the Varicella vaccination or has only received one dose, you might want to consider vaccination for them due to the recent report we have received. Your child’s medical provider would be able to assist you with that or you may take your child to the Webster County Health Unit on a Wednesday or a Friday from 7:30 to 11:00 and 1:00 to 4:00.

Below is some information about chicken pox that is on our Health and Wellness Service page of the Marshfield School Web Site:
Symptoms: A red, itchy rash, initially resembling insect bites, on your face, scalp, chest and back; Fever; loss of appetite or abdominal pain; Mild headache; dry cough
Transmission: Chicken pox is contagious for up to 5 days before onset of rash and not more than 5 days after the onset of the rash. Spread by coughing and sneezing and direct contact
School Attendance: May return when all lesions are crusted, generally day 6 after onset of rash.
Follow up: Susceptible individuals should be considered infectious 10-21 days following exposure.

Please feel free to call myself, your child’s medical provider or the Webster County Health Unit at 859-2532 if you have any questions or concerns.

Yours in Children’s Health,

Tara A. Geren, RN
Director of Health Services
859-2120 EXT 2305