Chickenpox outbreak spreads

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - The Chickenpox Virus continues to spread throughout the Wabash Valley.

Vigo County schools announced an outbreak last month, but new cases are still being reported.

As of Monday morning, Montezuma Elementary School located in Parke County declared an outbreak.

School officials reported eight confirmed cases of the Chickenpox.

Corey Hudson, a fifth grade math teacher at Montezuma Elementary, says he was surprised by the outbreak.

"It's been a few years, to this degree that we've had this many cases of Chickenpox. I think it's one of those things not too many people think about with the vaccine,” said Hudson.

By Wednesday morning, nurse at Montezuma Elementary set up a vaccine clinic vaccinating around 80-kids.

Even though Montezuma Elementary was the only school with confirmed cases, the Indiana State Department of Health covered all their bases.

Superintendent Leonard Orr, with Southwest Community Schools said, "There was a concern because we do share bus rides with high school kids and then the Rosedale kids share with other high school kids and that whole chain thing going on; so the state department of health decided we should just do all three buildings."

Mr. Orr says throughout his 9 years as superintendent he's never seen an outbreak.

"We had chicken pox parties so if someone ever had chickenpox everyone goes to that house to get it so you go and get it over with but that time has come and gone now,” said Orr.

Mr. Hudson says, "Growing up that's exactly what we did. You assumed if you were around somebody who got it, two weeks later you would probably get it."

Health officials vaccinated more than 80 kids at Montezuma and Rosedale Elementary schools.

Officials vaccinated five students at Riverton Parke.