Oceanside CA- The San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency reported Wednesday that a person who was ill with chickenpox (varicella) visited the North Coastal Family Resource Center in Oceanside on December 2, 2013 and may have exposed others to the disease. The center is located at 1315 Union Plaza Court. Anyone who was present in the waiting area of the facility from 2 pm to 3:30 pm on that date may have been exposed to the disease.
Chickenpox is a highly contagious disease caused by the varicella virus. It is easily spread by coughing, sneezing or contact with chickenpox blisters. Vaccination can prevent the spread of the disease and associated complications. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends two doses of chickenpox vaccine for all people one year of age and older who have no evidence of immunity for the disease. Ninety-nine percent of people develop immunity after two doses.
Symptoms of chickenpox include a skin rash of blister-like lesions, covering the body but usually more concentrated on the face, scalp, and trunk. The risk of complications increases after puberty and includes bacterial infection of skin lesions, dehydration and pneumonia.
Most, but not all, infected individuals have fever, which develops just before or when the rash appears. If exposed, fully vaccinated persons are well protected and do not become ill, though some may get a milder illness, with less severe rash (sometimes involving only a few red bumps that look similar to insect bites) and mild or no fever. The incubation period is from 14-16 days from exposure, with a range of 10-21 days. The illness lasts about 5-10 days. For more information on chickenpox and immunizations in general, please call the HHSA Immunization Branch at 619-692-8661 or visit the website at www.sdiz.org.