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[Chickenpox outbreak in Herrera del Duque, Badajoz, Spain].
F J Valadés1, A Barrasa, E Peña
1Programa de Epidemiología Aplicada de Campo. Centro Nacional de Epidemiología. Madrid, Spain. fvalades@isciii.es
Gaceta Sanitaria
|July 5, 2003
Summary
A chickenpox outbreak in Spain primarily affected young children, spreading through person-to-person contact. The outbreak
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology
- Virology
- Public Health
Context:
- Chickenpox (varicella) is a common viral illness with significant morbidity, particularly in specific populations.
- Extremadura, Spain, reported an annual chickenpox rate of approximately 5 cases per 1,000 inhabitants.
- Understanding outbreak characteristics and costs is crucial for public health interventions.
Purpose:
- To identify and describe the characteristics of a chickenpox epidemic outbreak in Extremadura, Spain.
- To analyze the associated direct, indirect, and intangible costs of the outbreak.
- To evaluate the role of susceptibility and environmental factors in disease transmission.
Summary:
- A descriptive study identified 75 chickenpox cases between November 2000 and March 2001 in Herrera del Duque, Badajoz.
- The outbreak predominantly affected children aged 1-9 years, with a high attack rate of 18.5 per 1,000 inhabitants.
- Microbiological confirmation was achieved through virus isolation and serological markers; the total outbreak cost was €927.21, with significant school days lost.
Impact:
- The study highlights person-to-person transmission of chickenpox among school-aged children.
- High susceptibility among pupils and social gatherings contributed to the epidemic's spread.
- The outbreak's cost was significantly lower than the projected cost of vaccination for affected individuals, informing cost-benefit analyses of public health strategies.