WLKM Radio 95.9 FM
Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency is investigating a possible chickenpox outbreak, Health and Disease Prevention Director Heidi Hazel told board members last week.
Hazel said her department is investigating a possible outbreak at a St. Joseph County school, but could not release further information.
Chickenpox is a contagious viral disease that causes itchy blisters, fever and fatigue, the agency states. The state reports that some cases may require students to be excluded from school for 21 days.
Health board member Rick Shaffer, a registered nurse with five decades of experience, works with a nurse practitioner providing home health care to the Amish community.
Shaffer said two of the 16 Amish church districts in St. Joseph County appear to have chickenpox outbreaks.
The agency said symptoms can appear 10 to 21 days after exposure, starting with a fever followed by a rash that lasts 5 to 10 days.
The virus is contagious for a few days before the rash appears and remains so until all blisters scab over.
