Chickenpox outbreak at 2 Auglaize schools

WAPAKONETA - An ongoing chickenpox outbreak has been reported at two Auglaize County schools, according to an Auglaize County Health Department official.

An Auglaize County resident was also diagnosed with West Nile virus, according to Natalie Hicks, emergency response coordinator and epidemiologist. However, officials are unsure if the virus was contracted locally or stateside.

Hicks at the Auglaize County Board of Health meeting on Monday morning reported the ongoing chickenpox outbreak is at two Wapakoneta City Schools District facilities. There have been at least five cases of chickenpox reported between Wapakoneta Elementary School and Cridersville Elementary School, Hicks said, adding that the cases are linked.

Hicks declined to say how many cases have been reported. She said the vaccination status of the children have been mixed, with some kids partially vaccinated, some unvaccinated and some up-to-date on their vaccines but too young to get the recommended second dose.

"We've talked about it before. We have an increased number of people that have waivers and medical exemptions for vaccinations," Hicks said. "So just overall, for all schools in our county, there's a higher percentage of that (exemptions and waivers) than we used to see."

Chickenpox has an incubation period of about 21 days, meaning the outbreak will likely be drawn out, Hicks said. The virus is also exceedingly contagious and infects 9 out of 10 people who do not have immunity, she said.

The chickenpox vaccination program has made a significant public health and economic impact since it started in 1995, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The U.S. became the first country to include the vaccine as part of the routine childhood immunization schedule.

Before the program began, chickenpox used to be prevalent in the country. Each year in the early 1990s, there were more than 4 million cases of chickenpox, 10,500 to 13,500 hospitalizations and 100 to 150 deaths in the U.S., according to the CDC. Most of the cases and hospitalizations and half the deaths were among children.

After 28 years, chickenpox is now rare in the U.S., with fewer than 150,000 cases, 1,400 hospitalizations and 30 deaths each year, per the CDC.

"We're hearing a lot of things through the grapevine and just how they don't want to get the vaccine because you don't hear of it anymore," said nursing director Jessica Whetstone. "But there's a reason why you don't hear of it anymore."

In other business, Hicks informed board members of a resident who was diagnosed with West Nile virus.

West Nile virus is the leading cause of mosquito-borne disease in the continental U.S., according to the CDC. While most people infected with West Nile virus have no symptoms, Hicks said this resident had a serious case which developed into meningitis.

Mosquitos in Auglaize County have previously tested positive for West Nile virus, but Hicks said officials are unsure if the virus was acquired locally. She said the resident had been traveling and hiking outdoors in other states before becoming infected.

Health officials also noted the health department will host a Halloween bash from 3:30-5:30 p.m. Oct. 23 at the health department, 813 Defiance Street, Wapakoneta. Officials will have trick-or-treating, games and flu shots available.

The health department meets next at 8:30 a.m. Nov. 14 in the board conference room in Wapakoneta.