Rubella in Romania
21 Jun 2012
During the first quarter of 2012, 11 809 rubella cases were reported to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), this compares with a total of 8 320 for the whole of 2011.
The current outbreak in Romania accounts for 10 602 cases (90%) reported in the first three months of 2012. This outbreak began in Salaj in September 2011, and is the largest since 2003. The highest incidence of rubella was in the 15–19-year-old age group. Of the cases with known vaccination status in this age group, more than 99% had not been vaccinated.
Advice for Travellers
It should be confirmed that children have received their recommended doses of MMR at 12-15 months of age and again pre-school around 3 years 6 months, while unimmunised adults who have not had the disease themselves may consider vaccination if thought to be at risk. Two doses of MMR vaccine are required to give adequate protection.