DETROIT (WXYZ) — Wayne State University has sent out a health alert saying that some residents in new apartments may have been exposed to chickenpox over the past several days.
According to the university, a resident in the Anthony Wayne Apartments went to the campus health center on Tuesday with symptoms that indicated a possible case of chickenpox. They are waiting on lab results to confirm the diagnosis.
Chickenpox is highly contagious and generally starts with a slight fever, followed by a blister-like, itchy rash. It can be spread through airborne droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes, or by touching or breathing in virus particles from the blisters.
The health center is saying that if you haven't been vaccinated, haven't had the disease, or are unsure, you should contact your healthcare provider or the campus health center for evaluation. They say you may need to receive a vaccine as immediate vaccination is the most-effective way to help lessen the chance of getting the disease.
"If you are experiencing any symptoms such as fatigue, fever, cough, itchy-blister type rash, please seek immediate medical attention, but please call ahead and let them know you may have been exposed to chickenpox and tell them about your symptoms so that appropriate arrangements can be made to avoid exposing others," the university said.
For more information about the disease, click here.
