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Clinical Microbiology Reviews, January 2005, p. 70-80, Vol. 18, No. 1
0893-8512/05/$08.00+0 doi:10.1128/CMR.18.1.70-80.2005
Copyright © 2005, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.
Preventing Varicella-Zoster Disease
Sophie Hambleton and
Anne A. Gershon*
Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons, New York, New York
Varicella-zoster virus (VZV), the cause of chickenpox and shingles, is a pathogen in retreat following the introduction of mass vaccination in the United States in 1995. The live attenuated Oka vaccine, which is safe and immunogenic, gives good protection against both varicella and zoster in the short to medium term. It has undoubtedly been highly effective to date in reducing all forms of varicella, especially severe disease. However, the huge pool of latent wild-type virus in the population represents a continuing threat. Both the biology and the epidemiology of VZV disease suggest that new vaccination strategies will be required over time.
* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons, 650 W. 168th Street, New York, NY 10032. Phone: (212) 305-9445. Fax: (212) 342-5218. E-mail:
aag1{at}columbia.edu.
Clinical Microbiology Reviews, January 2005, p. 70-80, Vol. 18, No. 1
0893-8512/05/$08.00+0 doi:10.1128/CMR.18.1.70-80.2005
Copyright © 2005, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.
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