More than 100 Spokane school students exposed to chickenpox

SPOKANE — More than 100 students at two Spokane elementary schools may have been exposed to chickenpox.

Students in affected classrooms at Madison and Holmes schools must provide proof that they have been vaccinated or that they have already had the highly contagious illness, which is caused by a virus called varicella.

If students and school staff in the affected classrooms can't provide proof of vaccination or choose not to be immunized, they will be sent home for as many as 21 days. That could keep students out of school until after Christmas break.

If an outbreak persists, the school exclusions could be expanded to include all students and staff at both schools without proof of vaccination or previous disease, said Julie Graham, spokeswoman for the Spokane Regional Health District.

While chickenpox is normally considered a mild sickness, Graham said it can cause serious illness — especially if infected children spread it to people with compromised health or the elderly.

Washington state has begun a phased-in requirement for all schoolchildren to be vaccinated against the disease. Vaccines have been available and recommended for all children since 1995.

The vaccines are available at most doctors' offices and at the health district's public health clinic.