Chickenpox Information for Schools and Childcare Settings

Chickenpox, caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), is a highly infectious rash illness. If you have children with chickenpox at your childcare facility, contact your local health district or DPH as soon as possible for recommendations.

Reporting 

• All individual cases of chickenpox should be reported to the Georgia Department of Public Health. Find out more about what needs to be reported, who needs to report diseases, and how to report at the following link: Reporting Chickenpox
• In response to a chickenpox report, case investigators collect information to learn more about who gets chickenpox in Georgia and to provide individualized public health recommendations. 

Resources

The following resources might be helpful references during a chickenpox case or outbreak investigation. Contact your local health district for individualized and up-to-date recommendations.

• GDPH Chickenpox Outbreak Protocol   
  • Guidelines and procedures for the investigation of chickenpox. 
• Chickenpox Outbreak Action Table
  • Action table for chickenpox outbreak investigation and control.
• Chickenpox Information for Families
  • Webpage with frequently asked questions about how to recognize, manage and prevent chickenpox.
• Chickenpox (Varicella) Questions and Answers   
  • Fact sheet for parents of children in childcare and school who have questions about chickenpox.   
• Varicella (Chickenpox) Reporting and Outbreak Recommendations for Schools   
  • Fact sheet with information about chickenpox outbreak control and reporting in Georgia. 

Page last updated 12/22/2022