Varicella outbreak reporting, response, management, and national surveillance.
Two national surveys were conducted to evaluate the status of varicella case-based surveillance and outbreak response. Although progress toward national surveillance has been significant, a large number of jurisdictions are still without case-based surveillance. For jurisdictions beginning case-based surveillance with limited resources, a staged approach is recommended. The national outbreak survey showed that a significant number of varicella outbreaks continue to occur. The majority of jurisdictions respond to these outbreaks, although the response varies considerably. Depending on the outbreak-response approach, costs per outbreak ranged from $3000 for a typical, or passive, response to $6000 for a more active response. As varicella surveillance and outbreak control improves, jurisdictions may benefit from more-standardized outbreak-control practices. The recent recommendation by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices for a routine second dose of varicella vaccine should lead to better varicella disease control, making case-based surveillance and appropriate outbreak response even more feasible.
Leung
Jessica
J
National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, USA. JLeung@cdc.gov
Rue
Alison
A
Lopez
Adriana
A
Ortega-Sanchez
Ismael R
IR
Harpaz
Rafael
R
Guris
Dalya
D
Seward
Jane F
JF
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002644:Chickenpox / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D019433:Chickenpox Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018563:Disease Notification; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000191:economics / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods*; D014481:United States
D019433:Chickenpox Vaccine