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The epidemiology of varicella–zoster virus infections: a mathematical model

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 May 2009

G. P. Garnett  and
B. T. Grenfell
G. P. Garnett
Affiliation:
Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, Sheffield University
B. T. Grenfell
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, Cambridge University, Cambridge CB2 3EJ
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Summary

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Herpes-zoster is caused by the reactivation of varicella–zoster virus (VZV). In this paper different hypotheses of how this re-emergence of virus comes about are reviewed and discussed. From these hypotheses, and epidemiological data describing the initial transmission of the virus, a mathematical model of primary disease (varicella) and reactivated disease (zoster) in developed countries is derived. The steady-state age distributions of zoster cases predicted by this model are compared with the observed distribution, derived from a review and analysis of published epidemiological data. The model allows differentiation between published hypotheses in which age of host may or may not influence the probability of viral reactivation. The results indicate that the probability of reactivation must increase with age to allow the observed pattern of zoster cases. The basic mathematical model presented provides a conceptual framework, which may be extended to assess possible control programmes.

Type
Research Article
Information
Epidemiology & Infection , Volume 108 , Issue 3 , June 1992 , pp. 495 - 511
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1992

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