Abstract and Introduction
Introduction
Rubella usually is a mild, febrile rash illness in children and adults; however, infection early in a woman's pregnancy, particularly during the first 16 weeks, can result in miscarriage, fetal death, or an infant born with birth defects (i.e., congenital rubella syndrome [CRS]).[1] In 2000, the World Health Organization (WHO) published the first rubella vaccine position paper to guide introduction of rubella-containing vaccine (RCV) in national childhood immunization schedules.[2] As of December 2009, a total of 130 WHO member states have introduced RCV, a 57% increase from 83 member states in 1996. In addition, goals to eliminate rubella and CRS have been established in the WHO Region of the Americas (by 2010) and the WHO European Region (by 2015),* and the WHO Western Pacific Region has established targets for accelerated rubella control and CRS prevention by 2015. During 2009, a total of 121,344 rubella cases were reported from 167 member states to WHO, an 82% decrease from 670,894 cases reported in 2000 from 102 member states. This report summarizes reported rubella and CRS cases globally and progress toward global introduction and use of RCV.
Member states submit information to WHO on the number of reported cases of rubella and CRS, and the use, timing, and number of RCV doses administered in the national immunization schedule using the WHO/UNICEF Joint Reporting Form (JRF). JRF data were analyzed for 1996 and 2009 to assess changes in rubella vaccine use, and from 2000 to 2009 to measure changes in reported burden of rubella and CRS.† Case definitions for rubella and CRS§ have been published by WHO; however, the exact definition used might differ slightly to reflect specific regional conditions.[3] WHO recommends that member states have first-dose measles-containing vaccine (MCV1) coverage of >80% before introducing RCV.[2] To assess member state eligibility for RCV introduction, WHO/UNICEF MCV1 coverage estimates for 2009 were reviewed. To assess overall MCV1 coverage for 2009, median and interquartile ranges of MCV1 coverage estimates were calculated separately for member states using RCV and for member states not using RCV.
Use of rubella-containing vaccine
As of December 2009, a total of 130 of the 193 WHO member states used RCV in national immunization schedules (Figure), including two (4%) of 46 member states in the WHO African Region (AFR), 35 (100%) in the Region of Americas (AMR), 15 (71%) of 21 in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR), 53 (100%) in the European Region (EUR), four (36%) of 11 in the South-East Asia Region (SEAR), and 21 (78%) of 27 in the Western Pacific Region (WPR). In comparison, only 83 member states used RCV in their national immunization schedules in 1996.
Figure.
World Health Organization (WHO) member states using rubella vaccine and member states* with minimum first dose measles-containing vaccine (MCV1) coverage sufficient for rubella vaccine introduction, 2009
* Member states that have not introduced rubella-containing vaccine into their childhood schedule.
Among the 130 member states with RCV in their national immunization schedules as of December 2009, the first dose is recommended to be administered at ages 12–24 months in 122 (94%) member states. Although only one RCV dose is recommended routinely, 119 (92%) member states use a 2-dose schedule because rubella vaccine is combined with measles vaccine, which requires a 2-dose schedule. Measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is used in 115 (88%) member states, measles-rubella (MR) vaccine is used in 12 (9%) member states, measles-mumps-rubella-varicella vaccine is used in two (2%) member states, and single-antigen rubella vaccine is used in one member state.
In 2009, median MCV1 coverage was 96% (interquartile range: 92%–99%) for the 130 member states using RCV, including nine member states (Azerbaijan, the Cook Islands, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Haiti, Iraq, Lebanon, Palau, and Samoa) with MCV1 coverage ≤80%. For member states not using RCV, the median MCV1 coverage was 76% (interquartile range: 74%–91%), including 22 member states¶ with sustained MCV1 coverage >80% in 2009 that have met the vaccination coverage criteria for introduction of RCV (Figure).
Reported Rubella and CRS Cases
During 2009, a total of 121,344 rubella cases from 167 member states were reported to WHO, an 82% decrease from 670,894 cases reported during 2000 from 102 member states (Table). The greatest percentage decrease between 2000 and 2009 was in AMR, where reported rubella cases decreased nearly 100%, from 39,228 to 18, and the number of reporting member states increased from 25 to 34. In EUR, which shares with AMR the goal of eliminating rubella virus transmission, the number of cases reported decreased 98%, from 621,039 to 11,623, and number of reporting member states increased from 41 to 46. In EMR, the number of rubella cases decreased 35%, from 3,122 to 2,030, and the number of reporting member states increased from 11 to 15. In contrast, during 2000–2009, reported rubella cases in AFR increased 20-fold, from 865 to 17,388, and the number of reporting member states increased from seven to 38. In SEAR, reported cases increased 14-fold during the period, from 1,165 to 17,208, and the number of reporting member states increased from three to nine. Neither AFR nor SEAR have specific goals for rubella control. In WPR, the number of rubella cases increased 12-fold during 2000–2009, from 5,475 to 73,077. During that period, China started to report rubella cases in 2004 and the number of reporting member states increased from 15 to 25. Globally, a total of 165 CRS cases were reported from 123 member states during 2009, compared with 157 CRS cases reported from 75 member states during 2000.
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. 2010;59(40):1307-1310. © 2010
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Cite this: Progress Toward Control of Rubella and Prevention of Congenital Rubella Syndrome — Worldwide, 2009 - Medscape - Oct 15, 2010.
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