ST JOSEPH COUNTY, MI (WTVB) The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency is investigating a potential chickenpox outbreak at an undisclosed school in St. Joseph County.
Health and Disease Prevention Director Heidi Hazel informed the health board that the department is currently tracking the spread but has not released specific case numbers due to privacy concerns.
However, St. Joseph County Commissioner Rick Shaffer, a registered nurse, noted that at least two of the 16 Amish church districts in the county appear to be experiencing outbreaks.
Health officials are urging residents to verify their immunization records, noting that state data shows approximately 85% of teenagers in the county have been vaccinated. Because chickenpox is highly contagious and spreads through airborne particles or direct contact, the agency warned that students without proof of immunity may be excluded from school for up to 21 days to prevent further transmission.
While most cases remain mild, the agency recommends that anyone experiencing a fever followed by a blister-like rash isolate and contact a healthcare provider.
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