Detention center recovers after chickenpox outbreak

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Detention center recovers after chickenpox outbreak

Children, staff vaccinated to limit disease

by Marcus Moore | Staff Writer

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Two children and one staff member at the Alfred D. Noyes Children's Center in Rockville have all recovered from a small chickenpox outbreak, which began in late February but was contained early this month, according to health officials.

One child recovered and is at home; the other has recovered and can re-enter the center's general population. The staff member has been cleared for work, said Jennifer Maehr, medical director of the state's Department of Juvenile Services.

The first case of chickenpox was diagnosed Feb. 21 at the detention facility. Maehr called the county Health Department's division of communicable disease on March 5 after the cases were diagnosed, Maehr said.

To help limit the spread of chickenpox, Noyes officials vaccinated all children and staff who did not have a history of chickenpox and cut back on any children moving between units, Maehr said. Officials also better screened children, limiting the admission of new children and transfer from one unit to another, and only accepted children with a history of chicken pox, Maehr said.

Children were asked to use hand sanitizer in between classes. Noyes officials wiped down basketballs and table tops to limit the spread of the illness, Maehr said.

There have been no other outbreaks at other centers and no more cases of chickenpox at Noyes, Maehr said.

The Noyes center takes children from Montgomery, Howard, Frederick and Washington counties. It takes as many as 57 children, ranging from 12 to 18 years old. The children get five hours of academic instruction at Noyes five days a week.