Chickenpox is highly contagious and can be spread by being in close contact with someone who has chickenpox.
As chickenpox and shingles are caused by the same virus, you can also catch chickenpox from people with shingles if you touch or breathe in particles from shingles blisters.
A person with the chickenpox is generally contagious from the beginning of the illness (up to 2 days before the spots appear) until about 5 days after the first spots appear. So long as there are no new blisters or moist crusts on spots, the person will not be contagious even if there are still crusts on the skin.
You should always practice good health habits to avoid spreading the illness, such as:
1. Australian Government, Department of Health. The Australian Immunisation Handbook. Varicella. Available at: https://immunisationhandbook.health.gov.au/vaccine-preventable-diseases/varicella-chickenpox (accessed 10 November 2021).
2. Australian Government, Department of Health. Chickenpox (varicella). Available at: https://www.health.gov.au/health-topics/chickenpox-varicella (accessed 10 November 2021).
6. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Chickenpox (varicella) transmission. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/chickenpox/about/transmission.html (accessed 10 November 2021).
MAT-AU-2102444 Date of preparation December 2021
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