Morung Express News
Dimapur | June 20
The spread of chickenpox (Varicella) viral infection in Pungro Town is more or less under ‘control’ with no fresh cases being reported for last 2-3 days, informed a medical officer (MO) at the Community Health Centre (CHC) Pungro on June 20.
All the patients are stable and receiving care at home, the MO told The Morung Express when enquired about the current status Monday evening, adding that infection is restricted to Pungro Town area only.
It was further informed that the health workers at the CHC are constantly updating and monitoring the status of their recovery.
According to the MO, the first cases of the chickenpox were detected in April, with 10 infections during the month. New infection decreased to 7 in May.
However, cases doubled in June, and consequently, the Senior Medical Officer, Pungro on June 10 notified the concerned school authorities regarding “increased spread” of chickenpox in the town and issued an advisory to take remedial measures to control transmission.
Among others, the SMO asked the school authorities to isolate infected individuals for 5-7 days; arrange separate classroom for infected students appearing exam or assessment; and to further advise treatment at CHC Pungro for those infected.
The assessment was based on Outpatient Department (OPD) and Emergency Room (ER) record at CHC Pungro, the SMO then noted.
So far 18 infections have been reported in June but there were no new cases for the last 2-3 days, the MO said. The infections were among children aged 6-15 years.
What is chickenpox?
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), chickenpox or varicella is an “acute, highly contagious disease caused by varicella-zoster virus (VZV), a member of the herpesvirus family.”
“Only one serotype of VZV is known, and humans are the only reservoir. VZV transmission occurs via droplets, aerosols, or direct contact with respiratory secretions, and almost always produces clinical disease in susceptible individuals,” it said.
Chickenpox illness usually lasts about 4 to 7 days, as per information about the disease by the United States’ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The WHO, however, described it as a mild disorder in childhood but tends to be more severe in adults. However, following infection, the virus remains latent and in about 10-20% of cases, it is reactivated to cause herpes zoster, or shingles, generally in persons over 50 years of age or immunocompromised individuals, it said.
“The best way to prevent chickenpox is to get the chickenpox vaccine. Everyone—including children, adolescents, and adults—should get two doses of chickenpox vaccine if they have never had chickenpox or were never vaccinated,” the CDC recommended.
Most vaccinated people do not get chickenpox, and even if a vaccinated person does get infected, the symptoms are “usually milder with fewer or no blisters (they may have just red spots) and mild or no fever,” it added.
Likewise, the WHO said that chickenpox can be prevented by immunisation and multiple vaccine formulations of the live attenuated vaccine, based on the Oka VZV strain, have been available since 1974.
Vaccines are available as a single antigen and in combination with measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, it added.
