Serological survey of rubella in Yemen in 1985

476 sera from subjects of 6 age groups were investigated using the HI test for rubella, the sera originating from 5 distinct regions of Yemen, namely highland, coastal the agricultural area Abijan, Vadi Hadramot and the capital Aden. The positivity rate among children aged 1-6 ys was 46.2%, the values obtained for girls aged 15-18, women in the 19-24 and 25-29 ys age group being 81%, 86.3% and 89.9%, respectively. When the findings of the immunological survey were evaluated with respect to the five different regions studied, the positivity rate in the highlands was found to be significantly higher among girls under 18 ys of age. The geometric means of HI titres for rubella antibodies proved to be the lowest in 1-3-year-old children (1: 59) and the highest in girls aged 15-18 ys (1: 163). The authors discuss the comparatively high risks of contracting rubella during pregnancy in four regions of Yemen.