Biological Hazard - State of Florida, Jacksonville [University of North Florida] : Chickenpox

Earth Watch Report  -  Biological Hazards

These chicken pox lesions are also in the early stage - around day three or four. Treatment options for chicken pox are limited. Unfortunately, it often just needs to run it's course. Since wide-spread vaccination began in the mid-1990s the incidence of chicken pox and its complications have decreased dramatically.

Dermatology

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Biological Hazard

USA

State of Florida, Jacksonville [University of North Florida]

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Biological Hazard in USA on Thursday, 10 April, 2014 at 03:26 (03:26 AM) UTC.

Description The University of North Florida Student Health Services has reported two cases of chickenpox on campus this week. Officials said one student lives on campus in Building 55, Osprey Fountains, and the other student lives off campus. Chickenpox is a very contagious disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus. According to health officials, the virus spreads easily from people with chickenpox to others who have never had the disease or received the chickenpox vaccine. The virus spreads in the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Officials said it can also be spread by touching or breathing in the virus particles that come from chickenpox blisters. A person with chickenpox can spread the disease from one to two days before they get the rash until all their chickenpox blisters have formed scabs. Authorities said it takes from 10 to 21 days after exposure to a person with chickenpox or shingles for someone to develop chickenpox. If a person vaccinated for chickenpox gets the disease, they can still spread it to others. Health officials said for most people getting chickenpox once provides immunity for life. However, for a few people, they can get chickenpox more than once, although this is not common. The best way to prevent chickenpox is to get the chickenpox vaccine. Children, adolescents and adults should have two doses of chickenpox vaccine. Health officials said the chickenpox vaccine is very safe and effective at preventing the disease. Most people who get the vaccine won't get chickenpox. Officials said if a vaccinated person does get chickenpox, it's usually mild -- with fewer blisters and mild or no fever. The chickenpox vaccine prevents almost all cases of severe disease. Biohazard name: Chickenpox Biohazard level: 2/4 Medium Biohazard desc.: Bacteria and viruses that cause only mild disease to humans, or are difficult to contract via aerosol in a lab setting, such as hepatitis A, B, and C, influenza A, Lyme disease, salmonella, mumps, measles, scrapie, dengue fever, and HIV. "Routine diagnostic work with clinical specimens can be done safely at Biosafety Level 2, using Biosafety Level 2 practices and procedures. Research work (including co-cultivation, virus replication studies, or manipulations involving concentrated virus) can be done in a BSL-2 (P2) facility, using BSL-3 practices and procedures. Virus production activities, including virus concentrations, require a BSL-3 (P3) facility and use of BSL-3 practices and procedures", see Recommended Biosafety Levels for Infectious Agents. Symptoms: Status: confirmed

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Local doctor: Chickenpox at UNF could affect rest of city

 

By Gene Wexler

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. —

A local doctor says a possible outbreak of chickenpox at the University of North Florida could potentially affect the rest of Jacksonville.
On Tuesday, UNF issued a health advisory informing students of two reported cases of chickenpox on campus this week.  One student lives in Building 55, Osprey Fountains, and the other off-campus.
“It certainly could spread out,” says Dr. Sunil Joshi with the Duval Medical Society.  “If the students were exposed to young children – pre-school or elementary school children who may have never had the chicken pox – the risk of it spreading quickly would be much higher.”
Dr. Joshi says he thinks the risk of the Jacksonville community getting exposed is “a little bit higher” with a campus like UNF, as opposed to the University of Florida.
“This is a university where a lot of the kids that go there live in Jacksonville and they’re from Jacksonville,” he says.  “So they live at home with their parents, and they go to the same grocery stores as we go to.”

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