title: An outbreak of rubella in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina between December 2009 and May 2010 indicates failure to vaccinate during wartime (1992-1995).
abstract: A rubella outbreak involving 1900 cases was recorded in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina between mid-December 2009 and the end of May 2010. Sera from 389 suspected rubella cases were examined for the presence of rubella-specific IgM and IgG antibodies. A total of 32 throat swabs from suspected rubella cases were tested by RT-PCR and were used to attempt virus isolation. Most patients (945/1900, 49·73%) had never received rubella vaccination or had an unknown vaccination status (563/1900, 29·63%). About 45% (178/389) of suspected rubella patients were IgM positive. From 13 of the throat swabs a virus isolate and E1 gene sequences attributed to genotype 2B were obtained. The rubella outbreak was due to failure to vaccinate during the war period (1992-1995) and emphasizes the need for additional vaccination opportunities.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Microbiology, Clinical Centre University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hukic
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Hübschen
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Seremet
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Salimovic-Besic
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mulaomerovic
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mehinovic
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Karakas
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Charpentier
authors.forename: C P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Muller
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D017522:Bosnia and Herzegovina / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010614:Pharynx / Q000821:virology; D011247:Pregnancy; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012409:Rubella / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012411:Rubella Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology*; D012412:Rubella virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014857:Warfare; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D012367:RNA, Viral; D012411:Rubella Vaccine