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Varicella (Chickenpox) in Florida

Florida Health

Disease Control

March Key Points

106 Cases
Two new
outbreaks
<1-5 year olds had
highest incidence
80% cases not
up-to-date or
unknown vaccinations status


The number of varicella cases reported in March 2024 increased from the previous month and was above the previous 5-year average. Due to robust vaccination programs, there is no longer discernable seasonality for varicella cases in the United States.

A graph showing a summary of varicella cases reported by month in 2024 as compared to the previous 5-year average. In March 2024, 106 cases of varicella were reported, which is above the previous 5-year average.

In March 2024, 106 varicella cases were reported in 17 counties, outlined in black in the map. From January 2023 through March 2024 the average county rates varied throughout the state.

A map showing the previous 3-month average varicella rates per 100,000 population. Counties with one or more cases reported in March are: Broward Miami-Dade Hendry Hillsborough Lee Leon Marion Orange Osceola Palm Beach Pinellas Polk Putnam St. Johns Sarasota Seminole Volusia Counties with a rate of 0.06-0.27 per 100,000 population are: Duval Miami-Dade Pasco Alachua Sarasota Osceola Okaloosa Brevard Santa Rosa Volusia Bay Citrus Polk Leon Counties with a rate of 0.28-0.96 per 100,000 population are: Seminole St. Johns Hillsborough Orange Palm Beach Putnam Broward Escambia Lee Marion Hendry Counties with a rate of 0.97-2.22 per 100,000 population are: Highlands Hardee Pinellas

In 2024, 216 varicella cases were reported. The annual number of reported varicella cases increased from 2018 to 2019 and decreased significantly in 2020, 2021 and 2022. Cases reported in 2023 returned to levels similarly observed prior to the 2020 pandemic.
*CDC MMWR report year

A graph showing a summary of the total number of varicella cases reported by year with an emphasis on 2019. In total for each year there have been: 853 in 2018; 983 in 2019; 348 in 2020; 365 in 2021, 428 in 2022, 658 in 2023, and 216 in 2024.

In March, the varicella rate was highest among <1-5 year olds at 2.54 cases per 100,000 population.



In March, 9 cases were household-associated and 44 cases were outbreak-associated. For most varicella cases, exposure to other known cases is not identified. In Florida, transmission setting is not routinely identified for non-outbreak cases, resulting in 45% of cases reporting unknown setting in March.

People with shingles infection can transmit the virus that causes varicella to people without immunity. In March, 10 cases reported having contact with someone diagnosed with shingles during their exposure period.

A graph showing a bar graph of total cases compared to household associated cases and outbreak associated cases for March 2024 and the previous 3-month average. In February 2024, 7 household-associated cases and 22 outbreak-associated cases were identified out of a total of 71 cases.

  • Resources
Varicella Laboratory Testing Guidelines

*Note: This page contains materials in the Portable Document Format (PDF). The free Acrobat Reader may be required to view these files.