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Vaccine Preventable Diseases

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Varicella (Chickenpox) in Florida

Florida Health

Disease Control

March Key Points

32 Cases
0 new
outbreaks
<1 year olds had
highest incidence
64% not up-to-date or
unknown vaccination status
A graph showing a summary of varicella cases reported by month in 2019 as compared to the previous 5-year average. In February 2020, 61 cases of varicella were reported, which is below the previous 5-year average.

The number of varicella cases reported in March decreased from last month and was below the previous 5-year average. Due to robust vaccination programs, there is no longer a discernable seasonality for varicella cases in the United States.

A map showing the previous 3-month average varicella rates per 100,000 population. Counties with one or more cases reported in February are: Alachua, Bay, Broward, Collier, Columbia, Miami-Dade, Escambia, Hardee, Hillsborough, Indian River, Jefferson, Lake, Lee, Marion, Okaloosa, Orange, Palm Beach, Pinellas, Polk, St. Lucie, Santa Rosa, Seminole. Counties with a rate of 0.1-0.3 per 100,000 population are: Alachua, Brevard, Escambia, Leon, Marion, Okaloosa, Osceola, Sarasota. Counties with a rate of 0.4-1.6 per 100,000 population are: Bay, Broward, Citrus, Collier, Columbia, Miami-Dade, DeSoto, Flagler, Hardee, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lake, Lee, Martin, Nassau, Orange, Palm Beach, Pinellas, Polk, St. Johns, Santa Rosa, Seminole, Volusia. Counties with a rate of 1.7-4.5 per 100,000 population are: Jefferson, St. Lucie.

The 32 varicella cases in March were reported among the 19 counties outlined in black. From January 2020 through March 2020 the average county rate varied throughout the state.

A graph showing a summary of the total number of varicella cases reported by year with an emphasis on 2019. In total for each year there have been: 567 in 2014; 741 in 2015; 733 in 2016; 656 in 2017; 853 in 2018; 985 in 2019; and 96 in 2020.

From January 1, 2020 through March 31, 2020, 189 varicella cases were reported in 42 counties.

The annual number of reported varicella cases decreased from 2015 to 2017. In 2020, case counts were similar to those seen in previous years, as indicated by the white bars in the graph.

A graph showing a summary of the total number of varicella cases reported by year with an emphasis on 2019. In total for each year there have been: 567 in 2014; 741 in 2015; 733 in 2016; 656 in 2017; 853 in 2018; 985 in 2019; and 157 in 2020.

In March, 5 (16%) of 32 total cases were associated with transmission within households and no cases were outbreak-associated. For most varicella cases, exposure to other known cases is never identified, and they are not able to be linked to outbreaks.

No varicella outbreak was reported in March.

  • Resources
Varicella Laboratory Testing Guidelines

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