Urgent query - Can chicken pox be transferred by a "carrier" person?

[Heylittlelady]

One of our friends visiting our 3 week old baby this weekend, came straight from a house whose toddler currently has bad CP.

Is it possible for CP to be transferred via him/his clothes/his hands etc to our baby?

I don't know if he washed his hands prior to handling our baby as I only learned of this after he had gone.

This was on Saturday, I am a little concerned as our baby has been unusually fractious this evening. We are about to take his temp. Also what symptoms should we look out for?

TIA

I had a quick look at the NHS website and don't think it is possible to transfer it through a carrier.

It says

Chickenpox spreads via tiny droplets of saliva and nasal mucus in sneezes and coughs from an infected person. The virus is already in these droplets, which is why it spreads so fast.

There is more on it here.

My DS had chicken pox when DD was 4 weeks old and when she was 6 weeks old she got it too. I wasn't anticipating her getting it as she was fully breastfed, but she did. I only realised when she became as spotty as her brother had been two weeks before. She was completely fine, the only difference being she was sleepier than normal.

I'd say it is unlikely your baby will get chicken pox.

I'm almost 100% sure that no, they can't. Unless they have it themselves, that is.

I did ask a doctor this when dd had CP.

Thanks v much, CTM.

Naturally am worried about these things. Have done temp and it's 37 which I think is ok, so just going to keep an eye on things.

No its not possible to carry it esp with a reasonable time lapse in between. The incubation period is 14-21 days from exposure so any symptoms now are likely to be something else.

Have a look at the NHS direct website. I don't know how long the virus can survive on hands etc, but IME, it is not as easy to catch as all that - DD was exposed 3 or 4 times (playing with child that turned out to have cpox) before she caught it. I would be v surprised if your baby caught it through an indirect route.
Symptoms (in a toddler anyway) a few days of cold-like symptoms eg mild fever cough runny nose, then spots appear which develop a blistery top and then scab over.

Thanks Elibean too. That's good to know.