JUMAAN AO, YU O, BOHLKE K, JACKSON L, GALIL K, SEWARD J; Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (43rd: 2003: Chicago, Ill.).

Abstr Intersci Conf Antimicrob Agents Chemother Intersci Conf Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2003 Sep 14-17; 43: abstract no. G-1084.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA.

BACKGROUND: After causing disease, varicella virus may remain dormant in the ganglia. Reactivation causes herpes zoster (HZ). It has been hypothesized that exposure to varicella boosts the immune system and suppresses HZ. Varicella incidence has decline by 75-80% since the 1995 introduction of vaccine, prompting some to suggest that HZ incidence might increase. We assesses the impact of the varicella vaccination program on varicella and HZ incidence in a Health Maintenance Organization in western Washington State. METHODS: In 1998, Group Health Cooperative, through a cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, searched in- and out-patient automated databases for varicella and herpes zoster codes, according to the Ninth Revision International Classification of Diseases, among its enrollees from 1992-2001. RESULTS: Varicella incidence rates fluctuated between 1992 and 1998 ranging from 1.65 per 1000 persons in 1993 to 2.45 per 1000 person years in 1995. The rates then steadily declined from 2.13 per 1000 person years in 1998 to 1.04 in 2001. In contrast, HZ incidence rates fluctuated only slightly ranging from 3.8 in 1992 to 4.3 per 1000 person years in 1996, with no change in incidence between 1998 and 2001. Age-specific varicella incidence rates fluctuated over time, but declined steadily in all age groups starting in 1999. Children 1-4 years of age experienced the greatest decline (61%) in 2001 compared to average pre-vaccine rate for 1992-1996. In contrast, HZ incidence rates fluctuated only slightly ranging from 3.8 in 1992 to 4.3 in 1996. Age-specific zoster incidence rates were stable over time. CONCLUSIONS: Varicella incidence declined in all age groups, while herpes zoster incidence remained constant for 1992-2001. Monitoring a varicella vaccination program should include surveillance for varicella and herpes zoster.

Publication Types:

• Meeting Abstracts

Keywords:

• Chickenpox
• Chickenpox Vaccine
• Child
• Herpes Zoster
• Herpesvirus 3, Human
• Humans
• Incidence
• Licensure
• Vaccination
• Washington

Other ID:

• GWAIDS0026838

UI: 102266462

From Meeting Abstracts