Vigo County Health Commissioner declares Chickenpox outbreak

VIGO COUNTY, Ind (WTHI) - On Friday, November 2nd, 2012 the Vigo County Health Commissioner, Enrico I. Garcia MD declared a Varicella (Chickenpox) outbreak in the Vigo County.

An outbreak is defined under 410 IAC 1-2.3-37 which means cases of disease occurring in a community, region, or particular population at a rate clearly in excess of which is normally expected.
As of November 1st there have been 57 known cases of varicella (chickenpox) in Vigo County. This is more cases of chickenpox in a given time for a given population and therefore cause to declare an outbreak.

• 2009- 22 cases
• 2010-4 cases
• 2011- one case
• 2012-57 cases

The Vigo County Health Department and Vigo County School Corporation will conduct free shot clinics at Terre Haute South Vigo High School on Friday, November 9th and Saturday, November 10th .
The clinics will be held in the school’s gymnasium with the entrance doors facing the south side parking lot.

The clinic on Friday, November 9th will only be for Vigo County School Corporation students and staff assessed as needing to be optimally immunized for chicken pox.

It is not open to the general public.

This clinic will be from 7:30 am until 4:00 pm.

The clinic on Saturday, November 10th will be open to Vigo County School Corporation students & staff and any Vigo County child older than one year and younger than six that still need to be optimally immunized against chickenpox.

The child’s current immunization record is required the day of the clinic.

The shot clinics will target Vigo County children who are not optimally immunized for chickenpox. This includes students currently enrolled in school, parochial and private schools, and home schooled children. Also targeted are children older than one year of age, but not yet enrolled in school. This includes children in Pre-K and Daycares.

The Vigo County School Corporation have assessed that there are 421 under vaccinated students or they lack documentation. Most students already have the required single dose for school immunization requirements, but need a second dose due to the outbreak. According to census data there are about 5,000 kid under the age of six and older than one year.