 Transmission
Symptoms
Prevention
Recent Texas Trends
Organism, Causative Agent, or Etiologic Agent
Chicken pox is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, VZV, a member of the Herpesvirus group.
Transmission
Chicken pox is spread by coughing and sneezing (highly contagious), by direct contact, and by aerosolization of virus from skin lesions. The skin lesions of chicken pox and shingles (zoster) can cause chicken pox in a susceptible person, but will not cause shingles.
Symptoms
A skin rash of itchy, blister-like lesions, covering the body but usually more concentrated on the face, scalp, and trunk. Most, but not all, infected individuals have fever, which develops just before or when the rash appears. If exposed, persons who have been vaccinated against the disease may get a milder illness, with less severe rash (sometimes involving only a few red bumps that look similar to insect bites) and mild or no fever. Adolescents and adults are more at risk for severe disease. Women infected during pregnancy may pass the disease on to their baby.
Prevention
Varicella vaccine can prevent this disease. Currently, two doses of vaccine are recommended for children, adolescents, and adults.
 Recent Texas Trends
Texas’ varicella incidence dropped dramatically in 1999, as vaccination coverage rose across the state due to school vaccine requirements. Rates have continued to decline, and in 2010, there were 2,760 cases of varicella in the state.
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