Four graduate students from Northeastern University have come down with chickenpox, sparking a health advisory within the campus community. The university's Health and Counseling Services disclosed in an email on Friday that the students, who live off-campus and were recently diagnosed are now in isolation, following guidance from the Boston Public Health Commission to remain isolated for three weeks post-exposure, Boston.com reported.
The students are currently receiving treatment for their condition and "are taking all necessary precautions," as per the communication sent to Northeastern students. The notification outlined the seriousness of the disease, noting that while chickenpox is highly contagious it can be particularly severe and can sometimes cause life-threatening complications during pregnancy and in those with compromised immune systems, despite it often being viewed as a mild childhood illness; additionally, according to NBC10 Boston, people who have already had the disease or who've been vaccinated—which is a requirement at Northeastern—are generally protected.
Northeastern University has urged its students to review their immunization records to ensure they're immune to chickenpox. The university email highlighted that if one does not meet the immunity criteria, obtaining a varicella vaccine from a healthcare provider or local pharmacy should be done as soon as possible. "Please don't delay," the university wrote, signaling the urgency of the situation to the student body.
Despite stating that those affected were following the prescribed protocols, the university's message left out details on how the students came into contact with the virus or their exact locations within the Boston area; the focus remains on containing the spread of the virus. The varsity has reiterated the importance of monitoring potential symptoms of chickenpox, which include fever, tiredness, general discomfort, and, most distinctively, a rash as a health measure for everyone at Northeastern University, "To ensure the health and safety of everyone at Northeastern, please check your immunization records to confirm that you are immune," the campus services note stated.
