Chickenpox case detected in Kupwara, surveillance team alerted

Srinagar, July 29: The health department has alerted surveillance teams after one case of chickenpox was reported in Langate Medical Block in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district, health officials said.
Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Kupwara, Dr Mohammad Ramzan said a 9-month-old baby in Puthwari area Nowgam has been diagnosed with chickenpox.
“As a precautionary measure, the child has been kept in isolation at home. It is an isolated case and there is no need to panic, but people should take necessary precautions,” he said.
The CMO said that the district team of the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) and doctors have been deployed to monitor the situation closely in the area.
“We have launched door-to-door surveillance in the area. The teams are conducting checks, especially among children, to prevent the spread of this highly contagious disease. There is no other case. This is a viral infection and anyone can be affected,” he said.
The CMO said that the surveillance is going to check whether there is any community involvement and teams will visit the area again on Sunday. “We will check if there is any more contact or case,” he said.
Varicella (chickenpox) is an acute, highly contagious disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), a member of the herpesvirus family. Only one serotype of VZV is known, and humans are the only reservoir.