Rubella in Poland in 2020

Since 2005, rubella has been included in the eradication program coordinated by the World Health Organization (WHO). The elimination of rubella in the country is possible provided that it is achieved by min. 95% immunization status and monitoring of the epidemiological situation, including the recording all suspicions of rubella and conducting laboratory diagnostics in the WHO Reference Laboratory.

The aim of the study is to assess the epidemiological situation of rubella in Poland in 2020, taking into account the assessment of rubella vaccination status and the degree of implementation of the WHO rubella elimination program in Poland.

Assessment of the epidemiological situation of rubella in Poland based on aggregated reports of suspected rubella cases sent to the National Institute of Public Health NIH - National Research Institute by the Voivodeship Sanitary and Epidemiological Stations, data from the bulletin "Infectious diseases and poisoning in Poland in 2020" and data from the Epibaza system and the bulletin "Preventive vaccination in Poland in 2020".

In 2020, 98 cases of rubella were registered, 187 cases less than in 2019 (285 cases). There was also a decrease in the incidence to 0.26 per 100,000, compared to 0.74 per 100,000 in 2019. The highest incidence, iregardless of gender and place of residence, was recorded in the 0-4 age group (2.98 per 100,000). In 2020, no cases of congenital rubella syndrome were reported. In 2020, only one case (1.02%) was classified as a case confirmed in a laboratory test. The remaining 98.98% (97 cases) were diagnosed on the basis of clinical symptoms.

In 2020, in Poland, a decrease in the number of rubella was observed. Rubella was registered in 99% on the basis of a general diagnosis, without the required laboratory confirmation, which means that other rash diseases can be registered as rubella.