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Health officer reports chickenpox outbreak at Wallington school; 21-day exclusion recommended for unvaccinated students
Summary
Health Officer James Fedorko told the board that a chickenpox outbreak at a Wallington public school prompted New Jersey Department of Health guidance recommending unvaccinated students remain home for 21 days from last exposure; the board also reviewed local rabies reports and other environmental health items.
The Wallington Board of Health reviewed a cluster of public-health items at its May 20 meeting, including a chickenpox outbreak at a borough public school and recent rabies reports in Bergen County.
James Fedorko, Health Officer, presented the health officer’s report and said the New Jersey Department of Health recommended that unvaccinated students who were exposed remain home for 21 days from the last date of exposure. The board discussed school immunization audit results, religious exemptions and concerns about possible future outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases. Fedorko said the Department of Health did not recommend issuing a town-wide notification.
Board members also discussed recent rabies incidents in Bergen County, including a reported rabid raccoon in Bergenfield, and emphasized continued rabies vaccination for pets and awareness of animal-bite risks.
Halina Dabrowska, REHS, reviewed several bite incidents, noting one cat-related matter for which no formal bite report was available, and confirmed routine inspections were up to date. Dabrowska flagged food-safety compliance issues at a local food establishment—specifically documentation for fish intended for raw or ready-to-eat preparation and the need for a HACCP plan—and reported an open nuisance complaint about poison ivy spreading onto neighboring properties; a letter citing the applicable ordinance has been sent to the property owner and follow-up will continue.
The board reviewed registrar and deposit reports for April 2026, which included registrar totals of $392.00 and dog/cat deposits totaling $486.00, and reviewed the County of Bergen Animal Control report. The board voted to approve the Health Officer, REHS and registrar reports by roll call vote.
No specific town-wide directive was issued at the meeting; the board approved reports and discussed outreach and enforcement options tied to animal- and food-safety issues.
