WARRNAMBOOL parents have been warned to be on alert if their children are unwell or itchy, with a number of cases of chickenpox reported at south-west schools.
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St Joseph’s Primary School principal Michael Gray said there had been eight confirmed cases at the school in the past three weeks.
He said it wasn’t particularly unusual for that many cases to be reported at this time of year, but urged parents to keep their children home if they suspected they may be suffering from the viral disease.
“It’s important for parents to let us know,” Mr Gray said.
“Sometimes they may present as unwell at school and they will be sent home.”
He said the school made it a priority to inform the broader school community about cases of chickenpox.
A number of other schools have reported single incidents, including Our Lady Help of Christians and Allansford and District Primary School.
A Department of Health and Human Services spokesman said advice was provided to any school or service that contacts us, particularly in relation to exclusion, information provision and high risk contacts.
“Cases of chicken pox in primary schools and children’s services centres must be excluded until all blisters have dried,” the spokesman said.
“This is usually at least five days after the rash appears. “
The main symptoms of chickenpox include a low-grade fever, general sense of feeling unwell and an intensely itchy skin rash.
“The blisters first form on the body and later on the head and limbs,” the department advises.
“They usually burst and develop crusts after about five days.”
Chickenpox is a highly contagious disease viral disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus and outbreaks are most common in winter and early spring.
A person suffering from the viral disease is contagious for up to five days before onset of the rash and remains infectious until the blisters form scabs.
People who may experience complications from chickenpox include newborn babies, pregnant women who have not had chicken pox or have not been vaccinated against and people with a weakened immune system.