Varicella in Tshuapa Province, Democratic Republic of Congo, 2009-2014.

OBJECTIVE

To describe varicella cases in Tshuapa Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo identified during monkeypox surveillance.

METHODS

Demographic, clinical and epidemiological data were collected from each suspected monkeypox case 2009-2014. Samples were tested by PCR for both Orthopoxviruses and varicella-zoster virus (VZV); a subset of VZV-positive samples was genotyped. We defined a varicella case as a rash illness with laboratory-confirmed VZV.

RESULTS

There were 366 varicella cases were identified; 66% were ≤19 years old. Most patients had non-typical varicella rash with lesions reported as the same size and stage of evolution (86%), deep and profound (91%), on palms of hands and/or soles of feet (86%) and not itchy (49%). Many had non-typical signs and symptoms, such as lymphadenopathy (70%) and sensitivity to light (23%). A higher proportion of persons aged ≥20 years than persons aged ≤19 years had ≥50 lesions (79% vs. 65%, P = 0.007) and were bedridden (15% vs. 9%, P = 0.056). All VZV isolates genotyped from 79 varicella cases were clade 5. During the surveillance period, one possible VZV-related death occurred in a 7-year-old child.

CONCLUSIONS

A large proportion of patients presented with non-typical varicella rash and clinical signs and symptoms, highlighting challenges identifying varicella in an area with endemic monkeypox. Continued surveillance and laboratory diagnosis will help in rapid identification and control of both monkeypox and varicella and improve our understanding of varicella epidemiology in Africa.