1 research outputs found
A retrospective 5-year review of rubella in South Africa prior to the introduction of a rubella-containing vaccine
South Africa has yet to introduce a rubella-containing vaccine (RCV) into its Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI). Here we evaluated the incidence of laboratory-confirmed
rubella and congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) cases over the years 2015 to 2019, to document the epidemiology of rubella and CRS within South Africa prior to a RCV introduction. This
retrospective study evaluated the number of laboratory-confirmed rubella cases reported
through the national febrile rash surveillance system. A positive test for rubella immunoglobulin
M (IgM) antibodies was considered a confirmed rubella case. For CRS cases, we reported laboratory-confirmed CRS cases collected from 28 sentinel-sites from all nine provinces of South
Africa. From 2015โ2019, 19 773 serum samples were tested for rubella IgM antibodies, 6 643
(33.6%) were confirmed rubella cases. Rubella was seasonal, with peaks in spring (September to November). Case numbers were similar between males (n = 3 239; 50.1%) and females
(n = 3 232; 49.9%). The highest burden of cases occurred in 2017 (n = 2 526; 38%). The
median age was 5 years (IQR: 3โ7 years). Importantly, of females with rubella, 5.0% (161 of 3
232) of the cases were among women of reproductive age (15โ44 years). A total of 62 CRS
cases were reported, the mortality rate was 12.9% (n = 8), and the most common birth defect
was congenital heart disease. In conclusion, rubella is endemic in South Africa. Children
below the age of 10 years were the most affected, however, rubella was also reported among
women of reproductive age. The baseline data represented here provides insight into the burden of rubella and CRS in South Africa prior to the introduction of a RCV, and can enable planning of RCV introduction into the South African EPI.The National Institute for Communicable Diseases, a division of the National Health Laboratory Service, South Africa.http://www.plosone.orgdm2022School of Health Systems and Public Health (SHSPH