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Chickenpox and Traveling

If you are traveling you should be aware of the many types of diseases and illnesses that you may run into abroad. Chickenpox is one of them and while the United States has a vaccination program, many countries do not.

The CDC has put together some good information on travel and the risks of disease and illness. Here is an excerpt from their site on travel and Chickenpox. For the full article you can visit the link at the end of the story.

Description

Varicella (chickenpox) is the primary infection with the varicella zoster virus (VZV). It is a highly contagious rash illness transmitted by airborne or droplet pathways. The usual incubation period is 14-16 days (range 10-21 days). Second cases of varicella have been reported in immunocompetent persons but are rare. Following varicella, VZV establishes latency in sensory nerve ganglia. The virus can reactivate later in life, causing herpes zoster (shingles), usually localized to one to three dermatomes. Transmission of VZV to a susceptible person occurs through contact with either a person with varicella or, less commonly, a person with herpes zoster.

Occurrence

Before introduction of varicella vaccine in the United States in 1995, varicella was endemic, with virtually all persons being infected by adulthood. Since implementation of the varicella vaccination program, incidence has declined in all age groups, with the greatest decline among children aged 1-4 years. Data from passive and active surveillance have indicated a decline in varicella cases of 70%-84% from 1995 through 2001 (1-3). The downward trend in varicella has continued in the United States through 2005 with an approximately 90% decline in incidence from 1995 in active surveillance sites with high vaccine coverage (CDC, unpublished data).

Risk for Travelers

Varicella and herpes zoster occur worldwide, but varicella vaccine is routinely used for vaccination of children in only some countries, including the United States, Uruguay, Qatar, Australia, Canada, Germany and South Korea. The risk of varicella infection for travelers coming to the United States is lower than for travel anywhere else in the world. However, VZV is still widely circulating in the United States. Additionally, exposure to herpes zoster, while less common than varicella, poses a risk for varicella infection. In temperate climates, in the absence of vaccination, most varicella cases are reported among preschool- and school-aged children during winter and spring. Studies suggest that in tropical areas VZV infection occurs later during childhood and adolescence resulting in higher susceptibility among adults compared with temperate climates (2). Reasons for this difference in disease epidemiology are unclear. They may relate to the agent’s heat lability and/or to factors such as the tendency for less indoor crowding in tropical regions.

For more on International travel from the CDC

Weapons and now Chickenpox at Airport Screening

Now it seems that we need to train the TSA in the screening of Chickenpox. This story from India and it happened twice now.

Chickenpox scare rerun on same flight

KOLKATA: In a bizarre repeat of Tuesday’s fiasco, another passenger with chickenpox managed to board a Kingfisher Airlines flight from Bangalore to Guwahati via Hyderabad and Kolkata on Wednesday. By the time the rashes were spotted and M Das evicted from the flight, it had already completed two legs of the journey with 221 passengers running the risk of infection.

On Tuesday, too, one Rahul Ravana had boarded the Kingfisher flight from Bangalore to Guwahati with chickenpox. He was also spotted only after reaching Kolkata.

For the full story visit

Mumbai India – Chickenpox on the Rise

Chickenpox cases on the rise, even adults not spared

MUMBAI: After the cold wave-induced respiratory infections, it’s chickenpox now in Mumbai. Hard to believe, but doctors say the disease is not restricted to the summer anymore.

“It started about two weeks ago. Chickenpox is quite unusual for this time of the year, as earlier it used to hit the city towards mid-April,” said Dr Vasant Nagvekar, general practitioner and consulting physician at Lilavati Hospital.

“I have been diagnosing five to six fresh cases of chickenpox daily,” said paediatrician Dr Sharad Menon who runs Sheetal Children’s Hospital. “This may be due to the fact that my area of practice, Kurla, is highly congested and has a huge number of children. Also many of the kids are not vaccinated against chickenpox, as it is costly,” he said.

Susan Abraham first noticed rashes on her six-year-old daughter Vinisha’s hand a week ago. “I found out that several students in her class have got chickenpox. The doctor has advised at least a fortnight’s rest,” said Abraham.

Even adults haven’t been spared the highly contagious disease, which spreads through direct contact or breathing in germs from someone’s cough or sneeze. “I am currently treating four adult patients from the Goregaon and Bandra area,” said Dr Nagvekar.

For more details and the full story

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