Dec 19, 2011-- Ultraviolet rays could help prevent the spread of the common childhood malady chickenpox, new research has shown.

The discovery, which suggests people in milder climates are more at risk of catching the disease, is hoped to lead to new ways of preventing chickenpox and its more severe relative, shingles.

Dr Phil Rice, virologist at St George's, University of London, found chickenpox is much less common in places with high UV ray levels.

UV light is known to inactivate some viruses, and Dr Rice believes his findings show UV rays could inactivate the varicella-zoster virus - responsible for chickenpox and shingles - on the skin before it transmits to another person.

Dr Rice examined data from 25 studies on varicella-zoster virus prevalence patterns in temperate and tropical areas across the globe.

He plotted the data against a range of climatic factors, to look at what might be the most likely causes of increased prevalence.

The data showed that, once other factors were ruled out, UV rays were the only factor to match the patterns in each country studied.

The moral of the story? Let your kids stop playing so many video games, watching so much television, sitting around on Facebook and go outside and play instead.

Source: BBC News Health