Rubella Epidemic in Japan

In Japan, where men have not been routinely vaccinated against rubella, thousands of rubella cases and 10 congenital rubella syndrome babies have recently been identified.

Rubella usually manifests as a mild, febrile rash. The primary aim of rubella vaccination is to prevent maternal infection, which can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, or congenital rubella syndrome (CRS). In Europe and the Americas, rubella has nearly been eliminated. The Western Pacific region lags behind somewhat.

Japan launched a single-antigen rubella vaccination program in 1976, but it targeted only girls in their early teens. In 1989, Japan introduced measles-mumps-rubella vaccination for all children aged 12 to 72 months, but a large male population remains susceptible.

After a decade of relatively low rubella incidence in Japan, rubella cases increased sharply from 378 in 2011 to 2392 in 2012. From January to May 2013, 5442 cases were r…

Reviewing Author

Stephen G. Baum, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardClinical Infectious Diseases

RoyaltiesUpToDate

Editorial BoardsMedical Letter

Stephen G. Baum, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardClinical Infectious Diseases

RoyaltiesUpToDate

Editorial BoardsMedical Letter

Rubella Epidemic in Japan

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Reviewing Author