• Two days prior to appearance of lesions and 5 days after or until all lesions have crusted over - whichever is longest.

• Obtain a list of all contacts (staff, visitors, siblings etc) who have had significant contact (same room for more than 5 minutes- 1 hour) or prolonged direct fact-to-face contact (see Red Book).

• If known past history of chickenpox - no further action.
• If unknown past history - refer to Occupational Health for an urgent VZV serology to establish immunity.
• Contacts do not become potentially infectious until 8 days following initial exposure to the index case.
• If VZV IgG serology is positive then they are immune and can safely come to work.
• If VZV IgG serology is negative then they are non-immune and must stay away from work from 8 days following initial exposure until 21 days following last exposure.
• Since August 1999 all new staff are required to be tested for Varicella serology.  Records of results are kept at Occupational Health.

• Parents who have an unknown past history require an urgent VZV serology.
• If non-immune, they become potentially infectious from 8 days following initial exposure until 21 days following last exposure.
• If VZV IgG serology is positive then they are immune and can attend normally.

• Visitors with no known history of chickenpox should be asked to stay away for the isolation period (8 days following initial exposure until 21 days following last exposure)

A vaccine for chickenpox is now available from Occupational Health and is recommended for any non-immune newborn services staff.  The cost for the VZV vaccine is met by Newborn Services (RC Manager needs to approve and sign off).