Rubella- an old enemy
Rubella
virus, also known as German measles, is an acute viral infection that causes a
rash and fever. Typically, there are no
major complications associated with rubella, as the disease lasts for three
days, and causes no serious illness among children and young adults (1). However, pregnant women who are exposed to
the disease face a slew of complications (1).
German measles in pregnant women can result in damage to the fetus and
potential birth defects, including mental retardation, deafness, cataracts,
liver and spleen damage, as well as heart defects (1). If a pregnant woman is infected with rubella,
there is roughly a 20% chance that the fetus will be affected (1).
Rubella- people still get that?
Due to a
successful vaccination program, rubella incidences have significantly dropped
in the past several decades. Through
proper protocol, all infants and unvaccinated adults receive two doses of the
MMR (mumps, measles, and rubella) vaccine in order to build an immune defense
against possible infection (1). For a
while, strong vaccination efforts were followed, resulting in a significant
drop in cases of rubella. However, in
recent years, some parents have decided to not vaccinate their children against
rubella. While some feel that the
disease is antiquated and there is no purpose in vaccination, others believe
that there are potentially harmful effects associated with infancy vaccination. As psychologists and neurologists attempt to
search for the causes of newly emergent autism spectrum disorders, many fear
that there may be some sort of correlation between vaccination and the onset of
autism. Although there is no significant
scientific data to support such findings, not everyone blocks out potentially
false information. As a result, some
childhood diseases, such as rubella, have made a “comeback” and are of concern
to children and pregnant women.
Beijing- a rubella case study
Recently,
Chinese epidemiologists have monitored the outbreaks of rubella in Beijing from
2007-2011. Unlike in the United States,
the rubella vaccine was not widely distributed in Beijing until 1995. Before this, there were high levels of
rubella among the residential population, and commuters into the city (floating
population). After the vaccine became
widely available, the reported cases of rubella among both the permanent and
floating populations drastically lowered.
Through statistical analysis, epidemiologists found that the overall
rate in rubella infection has remained relatively stagnant from 2007-2011, but
slightly higher than initially after vaccination began. They also founds that the ratio between
floating population incidences and residential incidences has increased. In some of the years, such as 2007, the rate
for the floater population was more than three times greater than that of the
residential population.
Most
importantly, the epidemiologists found that the most infected age group has
risen over the last several years. Before
2005, more than half of all reported rubella cases (floater and residential
populations) were found in children younger than nine. Recently, the age group most affected by
rubella shifted to 20-24. While it may
certainly be easier to control sanitation and quarantine efforts in an older
population of patients, there are other problems with this shift. There are more pregnant women in the 20-24
age category, and people in this age group are likely to have more interaction
with those susceptible to serious infection.
Also, although this data is novel, there may be a higher number of birth
defects caused by rubella due to the older effected population.
What next?
Although
the Chinese case study is slightly different from the newly emergent rubella
epidemics in the United States, the overall principle is the same. If one group of a population remains
unvaccinated, the overall number of cases will increase, and the demographics
may also shift. Thus, it is completely
necessary to vaccinate children to prevent those susceptible from becoming
infected, and to stop potential outbreaks before they occur. There is no known link between autism and the
MMR vaccine. Save a life and vaccinate!
Still not sure whether to vaccinate? Maybe this video will change your
mind!
Primary Article
Chen M, Zhu Z, Liu D, Huang G, Huang F, Wu J, Zhang T, Xu W,
Pang X. 2013. Rubella
epidemic caused by genotype 1E rubella viruses in Beijing, China, in 2007-2011.
Virology Journal 10 (122).
Secondary Article
Center for Disease Control and Prevention. 2011. Rubella
(German measles, Three-Day measles). http://www.cdc.gov/rubella/
Picture
NHS Tayside extends MMR vaccine campaign to under 24s. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-19720805
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