Shingles
Shingles is caused by the varicella zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. In shingles, the virus is reactivated in nerve cells.
It is estimated that 15-28% of people will develop shingles at some point in their life.
People over the age of 65 are more likely to get shingles.
More people have been getting shingles in recent years.
A smaller proportion of the people who develop shingles need to be hospitalized because of effective new antiviral medications.
A shingles vaccine was approved for use in Canada in 2008. BC does not yet have a publicly-funded shingles vaccine program. |
 |
Last Updated: January 14, 2010