If a person with shingles comes in contact with a person who is susceptible to varicella, what is the risk to the susceptible person of developing varicella, and what is the transmission route?
A person with shingles can can transmit varicella virus to someone who is susceptible to varicella. The varicella zoster virus is transmitted by direct contact with the rash. The person exposed would develop chickenpox, not shingles. The virus is not spread through sneezing, coughing or casual contact. A person with shingles can spread the disease when the rash is in the blister-phase. Once the rash has developed crusts, the person is no longer contagious. A person is not infectious before blisters appear or with post-herpetic neuralgia (pain after the rash is gone).
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