An infant and a young adult needed to be hospitalized due to the sickness last year.
According to the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS), there will be a 200% increase in cases among school-aged children for the year 2023.
A family member who had shingles, a recurrence of the varicella virus that causes chicken pox, was responsible for at least half of those instances, according to the DPHHS.
According to Jessica Lopeman, a licensed nurse and epidemiologist with the DPHHS, “the best way to protect yourself and your child from chickenpox is vaccination,” despite the fact that prior infection can prevent someone from acquiring the condition.
Closeup of a little girl receiving her chickenpox immunization in a clinic. Prevention of the varicella virus
Since then, people have been given the chicken pox vaccine.
The CDC reports that the effectiveness of the chicken pox vaccine in avoiding infection is greater than 90%. The 1995 vaccination is a two-dose injection; the first dosage is given between the ages of 12 and 15 months, and the second dose is given between the ages of 4 and 6 years old.
According to CDC estimates, the vaccination has saved 91 million instances of chicken pox, 238,000 hospitalizations, and 2,000 fatalities.
The painful blisters associated with the virus’ sickness, which can range in severity from mild to severe and generate up to 500 blisters on the body in some people, typically continue for 4 to 7 days. Fever, appetite loss, and fatigue may also be present in addition to the blisters.
While generally healthy individuals do not experience any complications from chicken pox, the CDC warns that it can have serious negative effects in susceptible individuals, such as infants, pregnant women, and anyone with a weakened immune system (such as chemotherapy or transplant recipients).
An image of a thermometer up close. The background is hazy and shows a sick youngster in bed.
Fever is frequently brought on by chicken pox.
Skin infections brought on by bacteria, pneumonia, brain swelling, and even sepsis are examples of complications. An infant and a young adult from Montana needed hospitalization due to chicken pox last year.
The governor of Montana is urging everyone to be vaccinated and take precautions to prevent spreading shingles, as the rise in chicken pox diagnoses in the state is mostly attributed to shingles contact.
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As incidences of shingles exposure have increased recently, Lopeman said, “DPHHS is reminding parents and grandparents that shingles can cause chickenpox in unvaccinated people who have never had the virus.” Children should receive their recommended vaccinations, including the chickenpox vaccine, and shingles sufferers should cover their rash to avoid the spread of the varicella virus.
