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Mar 19, 12:10 PM

Current Headlines: ILLINOIS

Dad's vaccination infects mom, child

CHICAGO -- A 2-year-old Indiana boy and his mother contracted a rare and life-threatening infection from his soldier father's smallpox vaccination, according to a published report.

The boy and his mother were being treated in a specially ventilated room at the University of Chicago's Comer Children's Hospital, the Chicago Tribune reported Saturday.

The family's name and hometown were not released at their request.

The boy developed a virulent rash over 80 percent of his body earlier this month after coming in contact with his father, who had recently been vaccinated for smallpox before he was to be deployed overseas by the Army, the paper said.

Physicians stressed that the boy was not suffering from smallpox, but from the related vaccinia virus which is used to convey immunity to the much deadlier disease. They said the infection was a rare condition called eczema vaccinatum, which has not been reported since at least 1990, when the military ended a previous program of smallpox vaccination.

VIRGINIA

Teens charged after gun found at school

RINER -- Two teens were charged with conspiracy to commit murder after one of them allegedly took a gun to school and at least one discussed shooting the principal and others, authorities said.

The boys, ages 14 and 15, were taken into custody Friday, said Lt. Brian Wright of the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office.

Another student told sheriff's deputy Kirk Hendricks, Auburn Middle School's resource officer, that the boys had a gun. "He probably saved some lives," Wright said.

DELAWARE

Teacher gets prison for sex with student

WILMINGTON -- A sixth-grade science teacher who was accused of having sex with a 13-year-old student has been sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Rachel L. Holt, 35, had pleaded guilty to second-degree rape. She sobbed in court Friday as Superior Court Judge Calvin L. Scott gave her the mandatory minimum sentence.

Prosecutors had wanted Scott to sentence Holt to the maximum of 25 years. Holt was initially charged with 28 counts of first-degree rape.

Police accused her of having sex with the boy that many times during an intense weeklong affair. She was also accused of plying the boy with alcohol and allowing him to drive her car.

-- From news services

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