Dear WMS Parents:

I am writing to give you information regarding a medical issue at the Middle School.

Today, we learned that we have a student who has been diagnosed with a confirmed case of chicken pox. Even though chicken pox has become a rare occurrence because of the strong immunization program required by the state, there is still the slight possibility of “breakthrough” disease (contracting the disease after having been vaccinated), which is the case with this student.

We have taken all the appropriate steps, including notifying the Department of Public Health and the Wellesley Board of Health. We have notified the parents of WMS students at risk due to being under-immunized or having other medical conditions that may leave them compromised. We have also notified all Middle School staff.

Please read below for additional information about chicken pox:

Chicken pox, also called varicella, is a disease caused by a virus;
It causes an itchy rash that looks like tiny blisters;
Anyone who hasn’t had chicken pox already can get it;
People with chicken pox can spread the disease by coughing, sneezing or talking;
Serious complications are rare, but are more common in newborns, pregnant women, and people with weak immune systems;
Please visit the Massachusetts Department of Public Health PH web site for more information.

I would encourage you to contact your physician if you have any questions or concerns regarding your child. Please don’t hesitate to contact me or the nurses at the Middle School if we can help clarify any of this information specific to your child.

Sincerely,

Linda Corridan

Department Head for Nursing