ABSTRACT
INCIDENCE/EPIDEMIOLOGY As about 95% of pregnant women are immune (VZV IgGþ) to varicella, primary maternal VZV infection (commonly called chickenpox, or VZD) is uncommon, and estimated to complicate about 0.5-3/1000 pregnancies. Women from tropical areas are more susceptible (50% immunity only) to the development of chickenpox. VZV vaccine was licensed in 1995 and decreased the incidence of disease by 85% to 90% in the decade following licensure (1).
