While most people suffer from their first and only outbreak of the chicken pox during their childhood, two recent cases at San Francisco State University has the entire campus alarmed.
SF State doctors sent an email blast to students after two individuals were diagnosed with the itchy virus last week. "The risk is in a big community that these two cases could have transmitted it to others," Dr. Alastair Smith, director of the university's student health services, told NBC Bay Area. "What we've been trying to do over the past few days is take a variety of steps to ensure that these two students don't pass the disease on to anyone else."
The San Francisco Examiner summed up the cause and symptoms of chicken pox in a shudder-worthy nutshell:
Chicken pox is spread airborne particles, respiratory droplets and skin-to-skin contact.
Exposure to chicken pox in those who are not immune can results in infection in two to three weeks. Symptoms include fever, tiredness, headaches and a rash that turns into itchy, fluid-filled blisters that scab after several days.
In his email, Smith recommended all members of the faculty and student body receive a vaccination, which is taken in two doses and is 98 percent effective.
Despite the precautionary measures, students were quick to voice concern. "I'm not freaked out about it where I'm petrified cause I already had it, but then at the same time, it's kind of freaks me out," Paris Jordan told NBC.
Vaccinations are available on campus throughout the duration of this week. For more, take a look at the ABC News report below: