Chickenpox: a risk-based model for managing the epidemic process

Abstract

The urgency of the problem of chickenpox is due not only to the high incidence, the presence of complications and a chronic form of infection, but also to the prospects for the introduction of its vaccine prevention. Modern features of the course of the disease are the involvement of individuals of different age groups in the epidemic process, the development of complications and CNS lesions in initially healthy individuals. The complicated course of chickenpox more often observed in adolescents, adults, and immunocompromised individuals. Pregnant women are a special risk group. Chickenpox is among the leaders in terms of economic damage from infectious diseases in the Russian Federation (2nd rank). The concept of basic reproductive number explains the rapid spread of these infections among new populations. Epidemiological risks of chickenpox are determined by the possibility of introduction into socially significant groups, the occurrence of group and outbreak diseases in organized groups, and epidemic spread among the population of municipalities. Immunization against varicella-zoster virus is a key aspect of epidemiological risk management. Tactics of immunization against varicella may be defined as a selective, post-exposure prophylaxis and universal. Routine universal vaccination against chickenpox is the most effective prevention measure. In anticipation of the national varicella immunization program, it is necessary to implement regional components, which should be aimed at immunizing groups at risk of infection and the development of severe clinical forms of infection and post-exposure prophylaxis in organized groups.