Potential chickenpox exposure at Montreal Children’s Hospital, MUHC warns
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Posted January 29, 2025 1:56 pm.
The McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) is warning of a potential chickenpox exposure at the Montreal Children’s Hospital last week.
The MUHC says a patient in the hospital’s pediatric emergency department on Jan. 24-25 has since been diagnosed with the virus.
Chickenpox, also known as varicella, is a contagious illness that causes an itchy rash, red spots, blisters, fever, decreased appetite, headache, cough and sore throat.
Anyone who may have been exposed is asked to inform health-care and daycare providers of the potential exposure and avoid contact with at-risk individuals such as pregnant women or individuals with weakened immune systems.
The MUHC says anyone who had chickenpox before 2006; shingles at any time; or two doses of the varicella vaccine is protected against the illness.
Anyone not immune could develop chickenpox 10 to 21 days after having been exposed to the virus.