An extensive rubella epidemic in Israel, 1972: selected epidemiologic characteristics

An extensive rubella epidemic which occurred in Israel in the spring of 1972 provided an opportunity for several observations: 1) This epidemic had been preceded by another extensive outbreak in 1962. The interepidemic period was characterized by persistence of some rubella activity and occurrence of limited outbreaks at irregular intervals. 2) The crude annual attack rate based on the number of recorded cases among a 2,160,000 Sick Fund insured population was 315 per 10,000; this was about 5.4 times higher than the attack rate calculated from the number of cases reported to the Public Health Offices. In selected areas, where the medical personnel had been canvassed, the attack rate was 1,101 in a population of 19,131. 3) Highest specific attack rates were observed in the age groups 5-9 and 1-4, followed by the age group 10-14. 4) A slight predominance was observed in male cases aged 1-4 and female cases aged 20-24. 5) The peak occurred 1-3 months after the epidemic started, and stopped very quickly at the beginning of the summer, one month after the kindergartens and schools commenced the summer holidays.