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The age of infection with varicella-zoster virus in St Lucia, West Indies

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 October 2009

G. P. Garnett ,
M. J. Cox ,
D. A. P. Bundy ,
J. M. Didier  and
J. St. Catharine
G. P. Garnett
Affiliation:
Parasite Epidemiology Research Group, Department of Biology, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London SW7 2BB
M. J. Cox
Affiliation:
Parasite Epidemiology Research Group, Department of Biology, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London SW7 2BB
D. A. P. Bundy
Affiliation:
Parasite Epidemiology Research Group, Department of Biology, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London SW7 2BB
J. M. Didier
Affiliation:
Parasite Epidemiology Project, University Centre, P.O. Box 306, Castries, St Lucia, West Indies
J. St. Catharine
Affiliation:
Ministry of Health, Castries, St Lucia, West Indies
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Summary

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Sera from an age-stratified sample of 1810 people from the Caribbean island of St Lucia were tested for antibodies against varicella-zoster virus. The results indicate that very few infections occur in childhood, which agrees with clinical survey data from other tropical countries, but contrasts with the observed high case rate in children in temperate countries. The alternative hypotheses which may explain these results are discussed, and it is suggested that high ambient temperatures interfere with the transmission of the virus. Irrespective of the cause, the pattern of varicella incidence observed has important implications for any vaccination policy adopted in tropical countries.

Type
Research Article
Information
Epidemiology & Infection , Volume 110 , Issue 2 , April 1993 , pp. 361 - 372
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1993

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