A 51-year-old San Diego man has died of complications from chickenpox, San Diego County health officials reported on Wednesday.
The man died July 15. He had underlying medical conditions and became sick after being exposed to a person with shingles, which health officials say is caused by the same virus that can lead to chickenpox.
Shingles is a painful rash that can emerge in people who have had chickenpox.
The last reported death of chickenpox in San Diego came in 2012, when an out-of-town child died in a hospital of the disease, health officials said.
Dr. Wilma Wooten, San Diego's county public health officer, recommends that all children get two doses of the chickenpox vaccine and adults over 60 get the shingles vaccine.
For information on chickenpox, shingles and immunizations, you can call the San Diego Health and Human Services Agency at 866-358-2966 or go here.
