Hawaii health officials investigate chickenpox outbreak at Kauai school

The Hawaii Department of Health today said it is investigating an outbreak of chickenpox at Kilauea Elementary School on Kauai.

To date, five cases have been reported among four students and one household member.

Health officials said none of the individuals were vaccinated against chickenpox, also known as varicella. They are recommending that community members get vaccinated against chickenpox if they have not done so, and if they have not previously had the disease.

Those in close contact with one of the five individuals, meanwhile, should seek medical advice on protection options, Hawaii health officials said.

“The chickenpox vaccine is the best protection against getting chickenpox and having severe outcomes of the disease,” the Health Department in a news release. “Everyone — including children, adolescents and adults — should get two doses of chickenpox vaccine if they have never had chickenpox or were never vaccinated.”

The classic symptom of chickenpox — a contagious disease caused by the varicella zoster virus — is an itchy, blister-like rash that turns into scabs after about a week. The rash may appear on the head, back and face first, then spread to the rest of the body. Other possible symptoms include fever, tiredness, and loss of appetite.

Chickenpox spreads easily through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes or from contact with their blisters, according to health officials. An infected person can spread the disease from one to two days before the rash appears until all of their rash blisters have formed scabs, they said. It takes about two weeks after exposure to a person with chickenpox to develop symptoms.

The department said most people who get the vaccine will not get chickenpox, and the few who do get it generally have milder symptoms than they would have if they were unvaccinated.

Serious complications from chickenpox can occur in those at high risk — including infants, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems. Those complications include bacterial infections of the skin, pneumonia and inflammation of the brain. Those at high risk should talk to the doctors immediately if exposed, health officials advise.