Elimination of Rubella and Congenital Rubella Syndrome in the Americas

Abstract

In 2003, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) adopted a resolution calling for rubella and congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) elimination in the Americas by the year 2010. To accomplish this goal, PAHO advanced a rubella and CRS elimination strategy including introduction of rubella-containing vaccines into routine vaccination programs accompanied by high immunization coverage, interruption of rubella transmission through mass vaccination of adolescents and adults, and strengthened surveillance for rubella and CRS. The rubella elimination strategies were aligned with the successful measles elimination strategies. By the end of 2009, all countries routinely vaccinated children against rubella, an estimated 450 million people had been vaccinated against measles and rubella in supplementary immunization activities, and rubella transmission had been interrupted. This article describes how the region eliminated rubella and CRS.

Vacinação contra rubéola em mulheres em idade reprodutiva no Município de Campinas, São Paulo, Brasil

“…As principais recomendações foram a introdução da vacina contra a rubéola na rotina aos 12 meses, campanhas em massa entre adolescentes e adultos (speedup) e seguimentos periódicos de menores de cinco anos para avaliar a cobertura, além de reforçar a vigilância da doença e da síndrome da rubéola congênita 9 .…”

“…saude.gov.br/sinanweb/tabnet/dh?sinannet/ src/bases/srubeolacbrnet.def, acessado em 17/ Ago/2012). Mesmo diante da crescente cober-tura, recomenda-se manter o programa de rotina com níveis de cobertura mínimos de 95%, oferecer uma segunda oportunidade de vacinação por meio de campanhas para controlar e reduzir o acúmulo de suscetíveis e prevenir os casos importados, monitorar continuamente as recomendações preconizadas e os indicadores de vigilância da síndrome da rubéola congênita, além de detectar e responder rapidamente aos surtos valendo-se de estratégias de contenção 9 .…”

Research priorities for global measles and rubella control and eradication

“…In the region of the Americas, the last confirmed endemic rubella case was reported in February 2009, indicating achievement of the regional goal of elimination by 2010 [78]. However, baseline information about endemic rubella virus genotypes does not exist for many countries.…”

Congenital Rubella Syndrome with Blueberry Muffin Lesions and Extensive Metaphysitis

“…All studies have focused on symptomatic cases of CRS [10] and currently there is no effective nationwide policy against rubella. In America, the use of vaccine since 1969 after the rubella pandemic between 1962 and 65 has brought the rubella cases down by 99% [11].…”