Health Alert at Riverwood Charter School

An individual at Riverwood International Charter School has been diagnosed with shingles, according to a letter that principal Robert Shaw sent home to parents Monday.

Shingles can’t be spread from person to person, but the virus that causes shingles can cause others to contract chickenpox if they haven’t had chickenpox before. Shaw stressed that shingles is less contagious than chickenpox.

“If your child has not had chicken pox or the chicken pox vaccine, you may want to contact your physician to
alert them,“ he wrote.

The virus is spread through direct contact with fluid from the rash blisters.

“Students with chicken pox should not return to school until the blisters have crusted over and began to heal and/or cleared by a physician,” Shaw states.

According to the CDC, 1 in 3 people develop shingles in their lifetime, usually after they reach 50 years old.

Read the full letter below:

August 25, 2014

Dear Riverwood Community,

This letter is to inform you that there was a recent diagnosis of Shingles (Herpes Zoster Virus) reported within our school. Shingles is the same virus that causes chicken pox. Shingles cannot be passed from one person to another. However, the virus that causes shingles can be spread from a person with active shingles to a person who has never had chickenpox. In such cases, the person exposed to the virus might develop chickenpox, but they would not develop shingles. The virus is spread through direct contact with fluid from the rash blisters, not through sneezing, coughing or casual contact. Shingles; however, is less contagious than chickenpox and the risk of a person with shingles spreading the virus is usually low.

If your child has not had chicken pox or the chicken pox vaccine, you may want to contact your physician to
alert them.

The symptoms of the chicken pox virus includes: fever, feeling ill and a development of a widely scattered itching rash with fluid filled blisters. If your child develops any of these symptoms, please contact your physician immediately. Students with chicken pox should not return to school until the blisters have crusted over and began to heal and/or cleared by a physician.

Please know that Shingles most commonly occurs in older people, with the risk increasing after 50 years of age. It is also more common in people who are immunocompromised or who are taking medications that suppress the immune system. Pregnant women should also be advised to consult their healthcare provider.

This is an informational letter about shingles and not meant for self diagnosis or as substitute for consultation with a health care provider. Should you have any questions, please contact your healthcare provider. For additional information you can also visit CDC’s website at: http://www.cdc.gov/shingles/index.html.

Sincerely

Robert Shaw, Ed.D
Principal
Riverwood International Charter School