Mayor Michelle Wu and Gov. Maura Healey confer whereas touring the Roxbury rec middle given over to migrants. (Herald pool file photograph)
The Healey and Wu administrations lastly had been pressured to acknowledge extremely infectious chickenpox instances at a migrant shelter in Roxbury this week however intentionally downplayed the outbreak for political causes and launched solely restricted info.
“There isn’t any outbreak concern,” a Boston Public Colleges official mentioned – solely after the Herald and different media requested concerning the outbreak.
The Division of Public Well being additionally launched solely restricted details about the uncommon instances of chickenpox, together with refusing to determine the three public colleges the place the illness unfold.
This from a governor and mayor who had been in favor of draconian measures to cease COVID.
However chickenpox amongst migrants? Nothing to see right here.
“We’ve got realized {that a} member of our faculty neighborhood has been recognized with varicella (also called chickenpox),” a letter from BPS to some households mentioned. “The well being and well-being of our college students are our prime priorities, and we’re working carefully with the Boston Public Well being Fee to correctly tackle the scenario.”
It was really 5 instances of chickenpox – which causes fever and rashes – in three completely different BPS colleges, officers acknowledged later. There was one extra case of chickenpox found on the Melnea Cass Recreation Middle migrant overflow shelter, which simply opened in January.
The delays and downplaying of the outbreak by the DPH and media appear extra to do with politics than public well being.
The Healey administration follows the same playbook when confronted with a doubtlessly destructive scenario with migrants, withholding info quite than informing the general public – treating something to do with migrants like a state secret. Communities are given just a few day’s discover, if any, when a brand new migrant shelter opens.
Within the case of chickenpox, which the Facilities for Illness Management warns is very contagious, the state and metropolis of Boston colleges division notified solely dad and mom of youngsters in school rooms the place the outbreak occurred – not within the college neighborhood at giant. Most dad and mom had been left at the hours of darkness.
“As per normal protocol, BPS alerts affected school rooms to alert dad and mom to observe for signs, keep vigilant, whereas additionally offering sources to folks,” the BPS official mentioned.
Chickenpox has been largely eradicated within the U.S. due to vaccines, however the inflow of hundreds of unvaccinated migrants into the state and nation has all of the sudden put varicella and different infectious illnesses like measles into the CDC’s radar.
Seven measles instances had been not too long ago reported at a migrant shelter in Chicago, prompting well being officers and the CDC to warn the general public and begin mass vaccinations.
Chicago additionally handled a surge in chickenpox instances late final 12 months at a migrant shelter, prompting the CDC to get entangled.
However there was no such warning given in Massachusetts and Boston concerning the six chickenpox instances discovered within the Melnea Cass Recreation Middle in Roxbury – no less than till the media came upon about it.
It’s unclear whether or not the CDC was even formally knowledgeable concerning the outbreak by state and metropolis officers.
Residents had been promised the rec middle in Roxbury will probably be returned to residents in time for summer season pool hours. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald)