Montreal Children’s Hospital warns of potential chickenpox exposure

The Montreal Children’s Hospital (MCH) is warning people that they may have been exposed to chickenpox if they visited the pediatric emergency department Jan. 24 and 25.

A patient in the area at the time has since been diagnosed with varicella.

Symptoms include an itchy rash with red spots or blisters, a fever, decreased appetite, headache, cough and sore throat.

However, those who are vaccinated against varicella, had chickenpox before 2006 or shingles are protected against the virus.

For those who are not immune, symptoms may develop 10 to 21 days after exposure. The MCH recommends that those who may have been exposed watch out for symptoms, inform health care providers of the exposure before medical appointments and to avoid contact with those at risk.

For those with weakened immune systems and pregnant people, the illness can be severe.