Kolkata chickenpox deaths worry doctors

A single hospital in the city has reported 26 deaths from chickenpox over the last three months, the highly unusual spurt in fatalities causing concern among state health officials. Chickenpox, a highly contagious disease caused by the varicella zoster virus, is rarely fatal, with only around 1 death per 1,00,000 cases among children aged 1-14 years; 6 per 1,00,000 cases in the 15-19 age group; and 21 per 1,00,000 cases in adults, experts said.

Kolkata chickenpox deaths worry doctors
A single hospital in the city has reported 26 deaths from chickenpox over the last three months, the highly unusual spurt in fatalities causing concern among state health officials. Chickenpox, a highly contagious disease caused by the varicella zoster virus, is rarely fatal, with only around 1 death per 1,00,000 cases among children aged 1-14 years; 6 per 1,00,000 cases in the 15-19 age group; and 21 per 1,00,000 cases in adults, experts said.