Which of the following must be reported to public health officials?

Chicken pox, also known as varicella, is classified as a communicable disease that poses a public health risk due to its contagious nature. The virus can easily spread from person to person, particularly among vulnerable populations such as children and immunocompromised individuals. Reporting chicken pox to public health officials is crucial for tracking outbreaks, implementing vaccination programs, and taking necessary public health measures to prevent the spread of the disease.

On the other hand, conditions like hypertension, the common cold, and excessive weight loss do not typically require reporting to public health authorities. Hypertension is a chronic condition that is managed on an individual basis, the common cold is usually self-limiting and not dangerous enough to warrant public health intervention, and excessive weight loss, while concerning, can result from a variety of individual issues that do not necessarily affect the broader community.