One virus behind two illnesses: chickenpox first, shingles later. Explore its illustrative 3D model, human context, and sources.
Varicella-zoster virus causes chickenpox as a first infection. CDC states that shingles happens when the same virus reactivates in the body after a person has already had chickenpox. Someone with shingles cannot give another person shingles, but can pass chickenpox to a person who has never had it.
CDC states that about 1 in 3 people in the United States will develop shingles in their lifetime, and that risk rises with age and with a weakened immune system. Chickenpox complications listed by CDC include skin and soft-tissue infections, pneumonia, encephalitis, bleeding problems, sepsis and dehydration. These are documented complications for the populations CDC describes, not a personal prediction.
Varicella-zoster virus · enveloped herpesvirus particle. One representative herpesvirus particle; capsid position and tegument thickness are schematic. The colours, proportions, protein shapes and visible counts are illustrative, not measured or an atomic reconstruction. Independent scientific review remains pending.
Source check: 2026-09-19. Educational content; independent scientific review remains pending.