ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Buncombe County health officials have confirmed a chickenpox outbreak at Fairview Elementary School, one of several communicable disease concerns being monitored as students return from winter break.
Buncombe County Schools officials said a third case of chickenpox, also known as varicella, was identified at Fairview Elementary during winter break. The cases have been reported since Dec. 5, 2025, meeting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s definition of an outbreak.
Buncombe County Health and Human Services notified families and staff last week. According to health officials, the exclusion period for affected students runs from Dec. 19, 2025, through Jan. 8, 2026. Parents received notifications through the school messaging system in multiple languages and through automated phone calls…