title: Rubella in Poland in 2013.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In 2004, Poland has adopted the WHO goal of rubella elimination and congenital rubella syndrome prevention. The main target of the Programme is to stop transmission of the virus in the environment and prevention of congenital rubella in children. This can be achieved by carrying out the vaccination. Participation in the rubella elimination program requires clinical diagnosis of rubella cases and their confirmation with laboratory test. In Poland, until 2003, national vaccination recommendation included a dose of rubella vaccine only for girls aged 13 years. Among men, the incidence of measles remained high creating a risk of infection of non-immune pregnant women which may lead to the development of congenital rubella syndrome in the child.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess epidemiological situation of rubella in Poland in 2013, including vaccination coverage in Polish population.
  
  
  METHODS
  The descriptive analysis was based on data retrieved from routine mandatory surveillance system and published in the annual bulletins "Infectious diseases and poisonings in Poland in 2013" and "Vaccinations in Poland in 2013" (MP. Czarkowski, Warszawa 2014, NIZP-PZH, GIS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 2013, there was big epidemic of rubella in Poland--with 38,548 registered cases (6 times more than in 2012), incidence 84.4 per 100,000 (5 times higher than in the previous year). The highest incidence rate, regardless of gender and the environment, was observed among adolescents aged 15-19 years (911.6 per 100,000). The incidence of rubella in boys and men was significantly higher than the incidence in girls and women (181.4 versus 23.9). In 2013, two cases of congenital rubella syndrome were registered.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Rubella epidemic which occurred in Poland in 2013 was the result of use in the past vaccination against rubella only for girls 13 years of age. The proportion of laboratory tests confirming/excluding rubella infection is still very low in Poland. In 2013, only 0.2% of rubella cases were laboratory confirmed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, National Institute of Public Health National Institute of Hygiene in Warsaw.
authors.forename: Monika Roberta
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Korczyńska
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, National Institute of Public Health National Institute of Hygiene in Warsaw.
authors.forename: Iwona
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Paradowska-Stankiewicz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D032541:Mass Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D012042:Registries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012409:Rubella / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D012411:Rubella Vaccine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012737:Sex Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D012411:Rubella Vaccine