We will probably be able to predict which age groups and socio-economic groups will be the last reservoirs of the disease as immunization becomes more widespread. Relying heavily on reporting and support from community organizations, public school districts, hospitals and clinics, health care personnel, the University of Texas Student Health Center and licensed day care centers, TDH already has gathered information on more than 3,000 cases of varicella in 1995. That compares with only 900 cases of varicella reported the year before, when reporting apparently was not as thorough as is required by a 1972 law. The participating organizations compile illness reports twice monthly. TDH then seeks detailed demographic and clinical information about each case.
All reports remain confidential.
TDH researchers then will be able to follow-up the nurse reports to gather more details.