Rubella

Rubella is still a public health concern in this country. With the great numbers of immigrants welcomed in the United States also comes the risk of diseases that are little known or thought to be of little concern. Obviously, there is a need for continued vaccination of citizens, not only at approximately 1 year of age and school age but also in terms of continued screening for and immunization of susceptible women of childbearing age. Policies need to be developed to address the issue of rubella infection and susceptibility in areas where there is a high population density of people from countries that may not have such strict immunization practices. Vaccination at workplaces that employ high numbers of foreign-born workers or that involve a close working environment, education of workers and health care professionals in the recognition of rubella and its potentially devastating effects, and continued surveillance for and reporting of cases in high-risk areas may be of benefit.