North Carolina officials say a chickenpox outbreak at a private school has grown to the state’s largest in more than two decades.
As of Monday, 36 children have contracted chickenpox at the Asheville Waldorf School and exemptions from vaccinations were a contributing factor, according to Buncombe County health officials.
Chickenpox is a very contagious infection but can be protected with a vaccine.
Get weekly health news
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services said in an email it’s the largest chickenpox outbreak in the state since the vaccine was introduced in 1995.
The Asheville Citizen-Times reports that more than two-thirds of the school’s 152 students haven’t received the vaccine, with many families seeking religious exemptions. The school enrols children from early childhood through sixth grade.
WATCH: Why this mom is blaming anti-vaxxers for her daughter’s hospitalization
- Kidney in a box: Advancements in transplant technology allows for quicker recovery
- Sections of B.C.’s involuntary care rules found unconstitutional
- Cat with rabies prompts 3 people to receive emergency treatment in Montreal area
- Cyberattacks on water systems are growing in the U.S. — is Iran involved?
-
![]()
Health Matters: Health Canada grants injunction against unauthorized peptide producer -
![]()
Congo struggles to contain fastest-ever Ebola outbreak, as death toll passes 1,500 -
![]()
Hemodialysis lab in southern Alberta receives multi-million-dollar boost -
![]()
Kingston woman marks 106th donation as Canada’s blood supply drops
Health officials say the outbreak is concerning because the virus can cause hospitalization in rare cases.
School officials didn’t immediately respond to an email seeking comment.
Comments
Want to discuss? Please read our Commenting Policy first.