Progress Toward Rubella and Congenital Rubella Syndrome Control - South-East Asia Region, 2000-2016

MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2018 Jun 1;67(21):602-606. doi: 10.15585/mmwr.mm6721a3.

Abstract

In 2013, the 66th session of the Regional Committee of the World Health Organization (WHO) South-East Asia Region (SEAR)* adopted the goal of elimination of measles and control of rubella and congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) by 2020 (1). Rubella is the leading vaccine-preventable cause of birth defects. Although rubella typically causes a mild fever and rash in children and adults, rubella virus infection during pregnancy, especially during the first trimester, can result in miscarriage, fetal death, or a constellation of congenital malformations known as CRS, commonly including visual, auditory, and/or cardiac defects, and developmental delay (2). Rubella and CRS control capitalizes on the momentum created by pursuing measles elimination because the efforts are programmatically linked. Rubella-containing vaccine (RCV) is administered as a combined measles and rubella vaccine, and rubella cases are detected through case-based surveillance for measles or fever and rash illness (3). This report summarizes progress toward rubella and CRS control in SEAR during 2000-2016. Estimated coverage with a first RCV dose (RCV1) increased from 3% of the birth cohort in 2000 to 15% in 2016 because of RCV introduction in six countries. RCV1 coverage is expected to increase rapidly with the phased introduction of RCV in India and Indonesia beginning in 2017; these countries are home to 83% of the SEAR birth cohort. During 2000-2016, approximately 83 million persons were vaccinated through 13 supplemental immunization activities (SIAs) conducted in eight countries. During 2010-2016, reported rubella incidence decreased by 37%, from 8.6 to 5.4 cases per 1 million population, and four countries (Bangladesh, Maldives, Sri Lanka, and Thailand) reported a decrease in incidence of ≥95% since 2010. To achieve rubella and CRS control in SEAR, sustained investment to increase routine RCV coverage, periodic high-quality SIAs to close immunity gaps, and strengthened rubella and CRS surveillance are needed.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Asia, Southeastern / epidemiology
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Disease Outbreaks / prevention & control*
  • Disease Outbreaks / statistics & numerical data
  • Female
  • Genotype
  • Humans
  • Immunization Schedule
  • Incidence
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Population Surveillance*
  • Rubella / epidemiology
  • Rubella / prevention & control*
  • Rubella Syndrome, Congenital / epidemiology
  • Rubella Syndrome, Congenital / prevention & control*
  • Rubella Vaccine / administration & dosage*
  • Rubella virus / genetics
  • Rubella virus / isolation & purification*
  • Vaccination Coverage / statistics & numerical data
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Rubella Vaccine