CURRENT SEROEPIDEMIOLOGY OF RUBELLA-VIRUS INFECTION AMONG FEMALE RESIDENTS IN TAIWAN

To examine the epidemiological characteristics of rubella virus infection on Taiwan Island and in Orchid and Pescadore islets, a community-based survey was carried out in 19 townships and metropolitan precincts randomly selected through stratified sampling. Serum specimens of 4,770 healthy girls and women randomly sampled from study areas were screened for the rubella antibody by passive latex agglutination testing and confirmed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. A total of 2,934 subjects were antibody positive, giving a prevalence of 61.5%. The mean +/- standard deviation of rubella IgG index was 2.51 +/- 0.37. The seropositive rate increased with age in all residential areas and ethnic groups. The age pattern indicated that the regular 10-year cycle of rubella epidemic was no longer existent after 1978. A higher prevalence was observed in the eastern island and Orchid Islets compared with other areas. The highest seropositive rate was found in Orchid Islets. The overall seronegative rate was 62.9% for females <20 years of age and 36.9% for women between the ages of 20 and 29 years. With such a high susceptible density among girls and women of child-bearing ages as well as the endemicity of rubella virus infection in Taiwan, mass vaccination against rubella should be enforced in order to prevent possible future outbreaks of the congenital rubella syndrome. (C) 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.