Staff at Ordway Elementary School alerted parents Tuesday that there has been a confirmed case of a student having chickenpox at the school.

Bainbridge school officials said the child attended Ordway’s school-wide “Meet and Greet” program on Tuesday, Sept. 1 while infectious.

Varicella, commonly known as chickenpox, is a highly contagious illness that causes an itchy rash and fever.

The illness can cause red spots or blisters (pox) all over the body, and is primarily spread from direct contact with fluid inside the blisters of an infected person or by airborne transmission when coughing or sneezing, officials said.

Though the illness is usually mild, it can lead to serious complications including severe bacterial skin infections, scars, pneumonia, brain damage or death.

School officials said those who have symptoms consistent with varicella should call their doctor or medical provider for an evaluation and not come back to school until all of the chickenpox blisters have scabs and no new blisters are forming.