Rubella in Poland in 2015

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Vaccinology

Background:

• Poland adopted the WHO goal for rubella elimination and congenital rubella syndrome prevention in 2004.
• Vaccination against rubella was introduced in 1987, with the MMR vaccine used for all children since 2003.
• Laboratory confirmation, including virus isolation and genotyping, is essential for confirming rubella cases and investigations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the epidemiological situation of rubella in Poland in 2015.
• To evaluate vaccination coverage within the Polish population.
• To monitor progress towards rubella elimination goals.

Main Methods:

• Descriptive analysis of epidemiological data.
• Utilized data from mandatory surveillance systems.
• Incorporated information from annual bulletins on infectious diseases and vaccinations.

Main Results:

• A notable decrease in rubella cases was observed in 2015, with 2,027 registered cases compared to 5,891 in 2014.
• The incidence rate declined from 15.3 to 5.3 per 100,000 population.
• No cases of congenital rubella syndrome were registered in 2015, and the highest incidence was among children aged 0-4 years.

Conclusions:

• Rubella incidence decreased significantly in Poland in 2015.
• The proportion of laboratory-confirmed rubella cases remains low (1.1%).
• Continued surveillance and vaccination are vital for achieving rubella elimination.