The Minnesota Department of Health and Albert Lea School District nurses are investigating an outbreak of at least 10 cases of chicken pox at Sibley Elementary School.

According to a news release issued Tuesday by Albert Lea School District leaders, the first cases of the virus were reported last Thursday.

School district nurses and Minnesota Department of Health officials are working with Freeborn County Public Health and Albert Lea Medical Center staff to investigate the outbreak.

“We’re on top of the situation and letting people know and taking care of things,” said Carol Bosma, school nurse within the district.

Letters were sent home to parents Monday, notifying them that several cases were identified at the school.

“While chicken pox is not a serious illness for most people, it can be serious in some people, especially those with weakened immune systems and susceptible pregnant women,” the letter stated.

It asked parents to determine whether their children are susceptible to chicken pox. If the children have never had the virus or have never received the chicken pox vaccine, parents may wish to exclude them from school until cases stop occurring or until their children are vaccinated, it stated.

Children who are unvaccinated against chicken pox should receive two doses of the vaccine.

Children who have received one dose of the vaccine should be given a second dose as soon as possible.

Parents should be cautious about their child’s contact with other children who may be ill.

Parents should be aware of the Albert Lea School District’s exclusion policy. When their child is ill, he or she must be excused from school usually for four to seven days after the rash appeared.

The Minnesota Department of Health recommends if children have already received one dose of the chicken pox vaccine, they should receive a second dose.

The vaccine that prevents chicken pox, called varicella, has been available since 1995 and has been required for students enrolling in kindergarten or seventh grade in Minnesota schools since the 2005-2006 school year.

According to the release, it is not unusual to see clusters of chicken pox in elementary schools. Occasionally there are outbreaks with an average of a dozen or so students.

“The number of cases in this outbreak is not unusual, and we do not believe there is cause for heightened concern with this outbreak,” the release stated.

For children under 13, anything over five cases of chicken pox is considered an outbreak, Bosma said. For children over 13, anything more than three cases of chicken pox is considered an outbreak.

Parents with questions or concerns can contact their school’s office or the Minnesota Department of Health at (651) 201-5414.