By NewsDesk  @infectiousdiseasenews

Taiwan health officials are reporting that the country is entering the epidemic season for chickenpox, reminding the public to be alert.

A number of varicella, or chickenpox lesions on the face of a young child/CDC

The monitoring data of the Department of Health Administration showed that there were 861 visits to the chickenpox health care clinic last week (November 24 to November 30), which was slightly higher than the previous two weeks (815, 814); 16 cases of chickenpox clustering were reported in the past 4 weeks. Most incidents are reported on campus.

Chickenpox occurs in winter and early spring and can be transmitted through direct skin contact, air or droplets, or contact with the patient’s blister fluid and mucosal secretions.

The Department of Disease Control points out that infants, pregnant women, adults, and immunodeficiency patients under the age of 1 are high-risk groups. They are prone to secondary bacterial infections, pneumonia, encephalitis, and death after being infected with chickenpox. The most effective way to prevent chickenpox is vaccination.