U.S. data underscore benefits of chickenpox vaccination

Subject: Science and Tech

Section: Health

Context:

The U.K. government announced that the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) had recommended a vaccine against chickenpox (varicella) should be added to routine childhood immunisation programme.
JCVI’s recommendation comes nearly three decades after the U.S. introduced it in 1996, and a body of evidence emphasising the benefits of varicella vaccination.

About Varicella Zoster Virus:

Varicella-zoster is a herpes virus that causes chickenpox, a common childhood illness.
It is an exclusively human virus that belongs to the α-herpesvirus family.
It is present worldwide and is highly infectious.
Primary infection of this virus leads to acute varicella or “chickenpox”.
The infections can progress to the central nervous system involvement and severe complications.

Key Facts about Chickenpox:

Highly Contagious: Chickenpox is an extremely contagious disease.
Symptoms: Common symptoms include an itchy, blister-like rash, among others.
Rash Progression: The rash typically begins on the chest, back, and face before spreading to cover the entire body.
Transmission: Chickenpox is transmitted through direct contact with an infected individual, inhaling air containing virus particles from a sneeze or cough of an infected person, or contact with fluids from an infected child’s eyes, nose, or mouth.
Incubation Period: The incubation period for chickenpox ranges from 10 to 21 days.
Seriousness: Chickenpox can be particularly severe in certain populations, including pregnant women, babies, adolescents, adults, and individuals with weakened immune systems (lowered ability to combat infections).