BUCKHANNON, W.Va. – Officials from the Upshur County Health Department have confirmed a case of chickenpox.
Steven Wykoff, director of the Upshur County Department of Homeland Security, said one person in one of the bands was feeling symptoms and went for treatment on Monday. Through treatment and testing, Wykoff said local health officials confirmed it was a case of Chickenpox or Varicella.
“We just followed our normal medical protocols and things at the state and local level,” Wykoff said. “We’ve been working with the World Association of Marching Show Bands Organization (WAMSB), and we’ve been working with state and local health departments.”
Chickenpox is a highly contagious virus that causes an itchy rash with small, fluid-filled blisters. It can spread very quickly to the unvaccinated or those who have never had the infection. Data shows nearly 95% of Americans have had the virus, and since 1995, the United States has administered a reliable, safe vaccination program for people 12 months of age and older.
“It’s a normal childhood illness; it’s something most everybody has gone through,” Wykoff said. “So, it’s not an uncommon thing; this is a very common virus.”
The discovery of the case is not a surprise to local health officials. For the majority of children, chickenpox is just an uncomfortable sickness and a burden for parents who have to take time off work to care for them. For those who do not develop the illness in childhood, it can develop into a far more serious case as an adult.
“So once you’ve had that vaccine or you’ve had the virus, that does protect you from getting the virus a second time,” Wykoff said.
The plan that has been enacted during the WAMSB is the same basic plan used for all events. Wykoff said they have been working with the organization committee for the last two years to make subtle changes to the base plan to fit the safety and security needs for the international competition.
“Not only for the WAMSB Festival but also the Strawberry Festival and Festival Fridays down here, all sorts of events like that,” Wykoff said. “We constantly have these plans and procedures in place just to ensure the safety of our community.”
The World Association of Marching Show Bands competition runs through Sunday.