Cost of Varicella Epidemic

Abstract

To the Editor.— Nosocomial airborne transmission of varicella has been documented.1,2 The disease is characterized by an incubation period of ten to 21 days with infectivity beginning at approximately one day before the onset of rash.3 On June 27, 1984, a pediatric resident at the University of Virginia Medical Center who was known to be susceptible to chickenpox examined an 18-month-old black male infant with papular, vesicular lesions on his face, upper extremities, back, and groin.