Varicella Death of an Unvaccinated, Previously Healthy Adolescent - Ohio, 2009

Varicella usually is a self-limited disease but sometimes can result in severe complications and death. Although infants, adults, and immunocompromised persons are at increased risk for severe disease, before varicella vaccine was introduced in 1995, the majority of hospitalizations and deaths from...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 2013, Vol.62 (14), p.261
Main Authors: Budd, Jeremy, Fowler, Brian, Brown, Alise, Swann, Sandy, Leung, Jessica, Marin, Mona
Format: Report
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescents
Chicken pox
Immunization
Mortality
Vaccines
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Summary:Varicella usually is a self-limited disease but sometimes can result in severe complications and death. Although infants, adults, and immunocompromised persons are at increased risk for severe disease, before varicella vaccine was introduced in 1995, the majority of hospitalizations and deaths from varicella occurred among healthy persons aged less than 20 years. Introduction of varicella vaccine has substantially decreased varicella incidence, hospitalizations, and deaths in the United States. Budd et al describe a case identified by the Ohio Department of Health of a 2009 varicella death in an unvaccinated, previously healthy adolescent aged 15 years. A CDC editorial note is presented.
ISSN:0149-2195
1545-861X