title: Imported Genotype 2B Rubella Virus Caused the 2012 Outbreak in Anqing City, China.
abstract: A rubella outbreak occurred in Anqing city of Anhui province, China, from February to July of 2012, and a total of 241 clinically diagnosed or lab-confirmed patients were reported. The highest number of rubella cases during this outbreak was recorded in teenagers between 10 and 19 years of age who had not previously received the rubella vaccine. Genotyping results indicated that the genotype 2B rubella virus (RV) was responsible for the outbreak. However, a phylogenetic analysis showed that the genotype 2B RVs isolated in Anqing City were not related to 2B RVs found in other cities of Anhui province and in other provinces of China, thus providing evidence for importation. After importation, the transmission of Anqing RVs was interrupted owing to an effective immunization campaign against rubella, suggesting the timeliness and effectiveness of contingency vaccination. Strengthening rubella surveillance, including the integration of epidemiologic information and laboratory data, is a vital strategy for rubella control and elimination. In addition, except for routine immunization, targeted supplementary immunization activities aimed at susceptible groups according to sero-epidemiological surveillance data also play a key role in stopping the continuous transmission of rubella viruses and in preventing further congenital rubella syndrome cases.
authors.affiliation: WHO WPRO Regional Reference Measles/Rubella Laboratory and Key Laboratory of Medical Virology Ministry of Health, National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Zhen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Anqing Prefecture Center for Diseases Control and Prevention, Anqing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Guixia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.affiliation: Anhui Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hefei, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Shujie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: School of Medical, Anhui University of Science & Technology, Huainan, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jingjing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.affiliation: Anhui Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hefei, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Anhui Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hefei, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jihai
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: Anqing Prefecture Center for Diseases Control and Prevention, Anqing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Shuping
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Anqing Prefecture Center for Diseases Control and Prevention, Anqing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yilun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: WHO WPRO Regional Reference Measles/Rubella Laboratory and Key Laboratory of Medical Virology Ministry of Health, National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Wenbo
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D002947:Cities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005838:Genotype; D005843:Geography; D006801:Humans; D010802:Phylogeny; D012409:Rubella / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D012412:Rubella virus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification