Pick any adult out of a crowd and the odds are he or she had chicken pox as a child. Since 1995, with the availability of the chicken pox vaccine, the odds are changing. Now many children have received the vaccination preventing this itchy virus. If you never had chicken pox as a child and have not been vaccinated, you are putting yourself and members of the University community at risk. Chicken pox is a contagious disease spread by airborne or close contact with an infectious person. An outbreak in a university setting could last 4 to 5 months. While the illness itself typically lasts 2 weeks, the incubation period for those exposed is 10 to 21 days. For students, faculty, and staff, exclusion from activities at the University has academic and financial repercussions. Be proactive and prevent a potential outbreak by getting vaccinated as soon as possible. Contact your healthcare provider, local pharmacy, or the University health center for additional information (7134 or health@up.edu).