Rubella infection in pregnancy and congenital rubella in United Kingdom, 2003 to 2016
Eurosurveillance·
- DOI
- 10.2807/1560-7917.es.2018.23.19.17-00381
- PMID
- 29766840
- PMCID
- PMC5954604
- OpenAlex
- W2802716848
- Study type
- Journal article
- Publisher
- European Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (ECDC)
- Article type
- journal-article
- Integrity
- current
Why this research matters now
The UK achieved WHO elimination status in 2016, with high vaccination uptake and rubella immunity in the population. Most pregnancy infections since 2003 occurred in unvaccinated women and were acquired abroad, suggesting that verification of complete immunization at every healthcare contact remains important.
Structured evidence summary
Research question
This surveillance report describes rubella infections occurring during pregnancy and cases of congenital rubella in the United Kingdom between 2003 and 2016, following nearly three decades of routine childhood vaccination.
Study design
Routine surveillance data were analyzed to identify rubella infections in pregnant women and congenital rubella cases over a 14-year period.
Population and setting
The surveillance covered pregnant women in the United Kingdom during 2003-2016. Among identified cases with known birth origin, the majority of affected mothers were born outside the UK.
Main findings
Thirty-one rubella infections in pregnancy were identified (0.23 per 100,000 pregnancies), with 26 occurring in women born abroad. Eight infants developed congenital rubella syndrome, and three had confirmed congenital rubella infection without syndrome. In five cases with known details, maternal infection was acquired outside the UK.
Public-health relevance
The UK achieved WHO elimination status in 2016, with high vaccination uptake and rubella immunity in the population. Most pregnancy infections since 2003 occurred in unvaccinated women and were acquired abroad, suggesting that verification of complete immunization at every healthcare contact remains important.
Important limitations
This summary relies on the supplied single-article abstract and metadata. The original paper is required for decision-grade interpretation of surveillance sensitivity, case ascertainment completeness, and detailed epidemiological assessment.
GIDS interpretation
This article would be discoverable through surveillance-related queries for rubella, congenital rubella syndrome, and maternal infection in the UK context. The classifier links to diseases, geographic location, and surveillance topics reflect the descriptive epidemiological content.
Related GIDS surveillance
Literature context does not validate, explain, or change a surveillance signal. Exact and contextual relationships are shown separately.
Evidence relationships
This article has 16 auditable classifier relationships to diseases, places, topics, and study design.