By Kristy Wagner

Staff Writer

Last week Kennebunk High School reported that one student was diagnosed with varicella, the virus also known as chicken pox, and students determined to potentially be at risk were excluded from attending classes last week.

According to a statement released by Kennebunk High School Principal Susan Cressey and school nurse Chris Guerin, the student received one vaccine shot early in childhood and was not administered a booster vaccine at any point afterward. The statement read “some students may still be susceptible to the disease” and the high school was “taking precautions” to be safe.

Precautions included excluding students from school who have only had one shot of the two-shot vaccine, students who have never had the virus or those who have never received the vaccination.

“This is part of the (Maine) Department of Education rules. They consult with the Maine (Center for Disease Control) to determine when they need to apply the rules and to what population,” said Dr. Stephen Sears, epidemiologist at the Maine Center for Disease Control in Augusta.

“Chicken pox is still unfortunately a common disease and this is the time of year we tend to see more of it and if someone gets chicken pox in a school then there is a determination of whether those people who are not immune to chicken pox are excluded (from school) during the incubation period of the disease,” Sears said. “We get called usually by a school nurse. We use what is called provider diagnosis. It has to be diagnosed by a physician.”

Sears said it is not unusual that Kennebunk High School reported a case of chicken pox this time of year because most cases are reported from winter through early spring.

Regional School Unit 21 did keep a handful of potentially at-risk students from attending classes at the high school and middle school last week.

Sears said if unvaccinated students receives the vaccine they can be permitted to attend classes and school activities immediately afterward. He said the chicken pox vaccine is administered as a “two-shot series” and even though only one shot is required to attend school, a child is not considered immune without the second shot.

 Sears said the CDC “highly” recommends both shots.

“Chicken pox is a vaccine that is required for school entry but parents can opt not to have their child vaccinated,” Sears said.

Sears said parents who decide not to vaccinate their children must sign a waiver and the school informs them their child may be excluded from school and activities if an outbreak occurs.

“The goal for excluding children who have not had chicken pox or had the vaccine is to prevent secondary cases and also prevent exposure to those people who are at risk,” Sears said.

He cited pregnant women and people with various health conditions as people who could suffer extreme complications from contracting chicken pox.

Sears said the school’s actions were appropriate and followed state protocol concerning chicken pox.

Staff Writer Kristy Wagner can be reached 282-4337, ext. 233.