6533b83afe1ef96bd12a716c
RESEARCH PRODUCT
The epidemiology of Varicella Zoster Virus infection in Italy
Gabutti GRota McGuido MDe Donno ABella ADegli Atti MlCrovari PSeroepidemiology GroupBassetti DBechini ABoccalini SBonanni PCaciagli PCamper ACampa AmCaraccio WCavallaro ACiamarra EClerico LCasentino LDe Simone EFavero AFocà AGenna LAnna GiammancoGiancotti AGoglio AGrandesso SIcardi GcLolli CMarchetti DMarsella MMartelli PMucignat LPalladino DPasserini CPerani VPiscione ERizza FRollo McSimula LSforza RTagliatatela DTronci MVillalta D.subject
AdultMaleHerpesvirus 3 HumanSettore MED/07 - Microbiologia E Microbiologia ClinicaPediatricsmedicine.medical_specialtyAdolescentCross-sectional studyPopulationVaricellamedicine.disease_causeYoung AdultChickenpoxSeroepidemiologic StudiesEnvironmental healthEpidemiologymedicineHumansSeroprevalencePreschoolChildeducationVaricella Zosterepidemiology infection in Italyeducation.field_of_studyChickenpoxbusiness.industrylcsh:Public aspects of medicineHerpesvirus 3Infant NewbornPublic Health Environmental and Occupational HealthVaricella zoster virusInfantvirus diseaseslcsh:RA1-1270Middle AgedNewbornmedicine.diseaseVaccinationCross-Sectional StudiesItalyInfectious disease (medical specialty)Adolescent; Adult; Chickenpox; Child; Child Preschool; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Herpesvirus 3 Human; Humans; Infant; Infant Newborn; Italy; Male; Middle Aged; Seroepidemiologic Studies; Young AdultChild PreschoolFemalebusinessHumanResearch Articledescription
Abstract Background The epidemiological importance of varicella and zoster and the availability of an efficacious and safe vaccine have led to an important international debate regarding the suitability of mass vaccination. The objective of the study was to describe the epidemiology of varicella and zoster in Italy and to determine whether there have been changes with respect to observations provided by an analogous study conducted 8 years ago, in order to define the most appropriate vaccination strategy. Methods A number of data sources were evaluated, a cross-sectional population-based seroprevalence study was conducted on samples collected in 2004, and the results were compared with data obtained in 1996. Results The data from active and passive surveillance systems confirm that varicella is a widespread infectious disease which mainly affects children. VZV seroprevalence did not substantially differ from that found in the previous study. The sero-epidemiological profile in Italy is different from that in other European countries. In particular, the percentage of susceptible adolescents is at least nearly twice as high as in other European countries and in the age group 20–39 yrs, approximately 9% of individuals are susceptible to VZV. Conclusion The results of this study can contribute to evaluating the options for varicella vaccination. It is possible that in a few years, in all Italian Regions, there will exist the conditions necessary for implementing a mass vaccination campaign and that the large-scale availability of MMRV tetravalent vaccines will facilitate mass vaccination.
| year | journal | country | edition | language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008-02-05 | BMC Public Health |