Reporting Varicella (Chickenpox)

On this page:
What to report
How to report
Submitting clinical materials 
Who is required to report
More about infectious disease reporting

What to report

Any clinically diagnosed and/or laboratory-confirmed cases of Varicella (Chickenpox) must be reported to MDH within one working day. 
This includes:

• All cases of varicella (chickenpox) in persons of any age.
• All cases of zoster (shingles) in persons under 18 years of age.
• All cases of zoster (shingles) in persons of any age with severe disease or complications other than post-herpetic neuralgia, such as:
  • Disseminated cutaneous disease
  • Visceral or central nervous system (CNS) involvement
  • Ramsay Hunt Syndrome
  • Myelitis
  • Skin or soft tissue superinfection
  • Herpes zoster opthalmicus

Note: In some situations, MDH may request that suspected cases be reported (as part of Reporting Unusual or Increased Case Incidence of Any Suspect Infectious Illness). This may include individuals that are not yet laboratory-confirmed and/or have not been evaluated by a provider (i.e. individuals with a rash illness associated with a cluster or outbreak).

How to report varicella disease

• Vaccine Preventable Disease (VPD) Reporting Form
  This online RedCap form can be used by healthcare providers, schools and childcare to report varicella (chickenpox) to the Minnesota Department of Health.
   
• Phone
  Any reportable infectious disease may be reported by phone to 651-201-5414 or 877-676-5414.

Other ways to report for healthcare providers

• Varicella Report Form for Healthcare Providers (PDF) 
  This form can be used by healthcare providers to report varicella (chickenpox) to the Minnesota Department of Health.
  Fax the completed form to 1-800-295-9769.
  Please clearly indicate on this form if you are reporting varicella (chickenpox) or zoster (shingles).

Other ways to report for schools and childcare

• Varicella (Chickenpox) and Zoster (Shingles) Case Report Form for Minnesota Schools and Childcares (PDF) 
  This form can be used by schools and childcare to report cases of chickenpox or shingles by fax to 1-800-295-9769.

Submitting clinical materials

MDH may request submission of clinical materials for further laboratory testing, especially in situations when a patient with suspected varicella or zoster was recently vaccinated. Our laboratory can determine whether the infection is due to wild-type or vaccine-strain varicella zoster virus.

Who is required to report

• Healthcare practitioners (healthcare facilities, medical laboratories, and in certain circumstances veterinarians and veterinary medical laboratories) are required to report disease to the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) under Minnesota state law.
  • Unless previously reported, every licensed healthcare provider who provides care to any patient who has, is suspected of having, or has died from a reportable disease is required to report.
• Any person in charge of any institution, school, childcare facility, or camp is also required to report disease to MDH.
• Persons Required to Report Disease
  More information about who is required to report disease.

More about infectious disease reporting

• Infectious Disease Reporting
  Find out which infectious diseases must be reported by law in Minnesota, who is required to report diseases, how each disease can be reported, and download the appropriate forms.