Communicable Disease Paper
Maria G. Sanchez
HCS/457
June 29, 2015
Charlotte A. Ferrell

Communicable Disease Paper
One of the many highly communicable diseases is chickenpox. This communicable disease is caused by varicella-zoster virus (VZV) which has a resemblance with the herpes virus. It can be transmitted in two ways, one through direct contact with the fluids from the blisters, mucus, or saliva and second through air where the virus is disseminated by coughing or sneezing. A person who has chickenpox can spread the virus even before he or she has any symptoms. Chickenpox is regarded as highly communicable for individuals who are exposed to the disease for the first time nor have been vaccinated against it. They have an 80% risk of
Presently, the incidence of chickenpox has dropped as vaccinations have become widely available. Prior to the advent of chickenpox vaccine, infected individuals would often die or end up with a complication known as encephalitis which causes brain damage. The vaccine was made available to the public not to prevent or stop chickenpox from occurring but to foil severe symptoms and death from infected individuals. As claimed by CDC in 2012, “chickenpox vaccine is the most excellent means to avoid chickenpox. Vaccination does not only safeguards vaccinated individuals; it also reduces the unvaccinated individual’s risk of getting exposed.” The chickenpox vaccine has been known to keep 11 out of 12 vaccinated individuals. In the United States, children receive two varicella vaccinations as part of the routine childhood immunization – first dose is first given between ages 12 and 15 months and the second dose between ages 4 and 6 years” (Mayo Clinic, 2010, p. 2). The advent of chickenpox vaccine was to eradicate chickenpox to improve the health of individuals. As a vaccinated individual contracts the disease, it wouldn’t be lethal and may last just for a few days.
Varicella zoster vaccine was made part of the community immunization programs in order to eradicate the disease and preventing it to create an epidemic in communities. The goals of community immunizations program are lessening or eradicating chickenpox cases and managing epidemic