DUBLIN, Ireland: Hospitalizations from chickenpox in Ireland surged by 126 percent last year, according to new research from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC).
In 2023, there were 170 hospitalizations for chickenpox, up from 75 in 2022.
Chickenpox, caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), leads to an itchy, blister-like rash and is highly contagious. While typically mild, it can be severe in babies, adolescents, adults, pregnant women, and individuals with weakened immune systems. Ireland sees around 58,000 cases annually, with about 1 in every 250 cases requiring hospitalization.
Dr. Niall Conroy, Adjunct Professor of Public Health at University College Cork, commented on the alarming trend: “Last year, we saw a significant rise in the number of children hospitalized due to chickenpox. The HPSC reported a 126 percent increase in hospitalizations from 2022 to 2023, highlighting a concerning trend amidst outbreaks of other preventable diseases like measles. This should be a timely warning to take preventable diseases seriously.”
Dr. Conroy emphasized the importance of parental awareness and urged parents to consult healthcare professionals to understand how to protect their children against preventable diseases like chickenpox.