Disease Trends
Child Care facilities are at risk for case clusters and outbreaks related to Chickenpox and Norovirus. If your facility has any known cases please let us know! You can leave a report on our Communicable Disease Report line: 360-778-6150. We are available for help and consultation, please reach out if you need any assistance!
Chickenpox
The Whatcom County Health Department recently received notification of school-aged children diagnosed with Chickenpox.
Here's what you should know:
- Symptoms: blister-like rash, fever, runny nose, cough, tiredness and loss of appetite.
- Spread by touching blister fluid and through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
- Children with suspected chickenpox should be evaluated by a healthcare provider.
- Learn more here: https://www.cdc.gov/chickenpox/index.html
Norovirus
Several school and child care settings have reported Norovirus-like illness outbreaks recently. Norovirus, also called gastroenteritis or “the stomach flu”, can move through facilities quickly. Act fast if cases are identified to prevent spread throughout your child care facility.Here’s what you should know:
- Symptoms: usually nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
- Symptoms often occur suddenly and normally last 24-48 hours. You may have one case and the next day a dozen more.
- Spread by contact with the stool or vomit of infected people and contaminated objects or food.
- Learn more here: https://www.cdc.gov/norovirus/index.html
Check out the Norovirus Outbreak Control Checklist from the Washington State Department of Health:
http://www.doh.wa.gov/Portals/1/Documents/5100/420-169-NoroFacilityChecklistSchools.docx
Generic Parent Letters for exposures are available in English and Spanish:
http://providers.whatcomcounty.org/parent-letters/