The Health Bureau (SSM) announced in a statement yesterday that it had received a report of a cluster of chickenpox infections in the primary section of Pui Va Middle School.
According to the statement, 18 pupils – 11 boys and 7 girls – have, since September 15, developed symptoms including a rash and small blisters on the head, face, limbs, chest, and back.
All affected students have received medical treatment, and there have been no cases of severe illness or other serious complications, the statement said, adding that all of the pupils had previously received one dose of the chickenpox (varicella) vaccine.
The statement noted that some of the individuals who have been vaccinated against chickenpox may still become infected – a phenomenon known as a breakthrough infection.
However, the symptoms are usually mild and atypical, featuring fewer blisters and a shorter duration of illness. Given that this incident is a cluster event caused by breakthrough infections, the bureau dispatched staff to the site to carry out inspections, implement infection control measures – such as cleaning, disinfection, and maintaining indoor ventilation – and strictly enforce the requirement that affected students and staff stay away from school or work, according to the statement.
According to the statement, chickenpox (medically known as varicella) is a highly contagious infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), a member of the herpesvirus family. It is characterised by an itchy rash that turns into fluid-filled blisters and eventually crusts over, often accompanied by fever, fatigue, headache, and loss of appetite.
The virus spreads through airborne droplets from coughing or sneezing, or through direct contact with blister fluid. It has an incubation period of 10 to 21 days and remains contagious from about 1 to 2 days before the rash appears until all blisters have crusted over, the statement underlined.
While most common in children under 10 - in whom it is usually mild - chickenpox can be more severe in adults, infants, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems, potentially leading to complications such as skin infections, pneumonia, or encephalitis. The varicella vaccine is highly effective at preventing or lessening the severity of the illness. Following recovery, the virus remains dormant in the body and can reactivate later in life as shingles (herpes zoster), the statement said.
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