Survey on rubella, rubella in pregnancy and congenital rubella surveillance systems in EU/EEA countries

Most EU/EEA countries monitor rubella, rubella in pregnancy and congenital rubella syndrome through mandatory and comprehensive systems, but changes could be made to help align surveillance data across Europe, states the new ECDC report on rubella surveillance systems in EU/EEA countries.

The new report is based on a survey that ECDC conducted between June and November 2012 to obtain an overview of surveillance systems of rubella, rubella in pregnancy and congenital rubella in 29 EU/EEA countries.

This is particularly important as all member countries of the WHO European Region have committed to eliminating rubella and preventing congenital rubella in the region by 2015. Efforts are still needed to ensure rubella elimination from the region. In 2012, EU/EEA countries reported just over 27.000 rubella cases to ECDC. 

Some actions that countries could implement with regards to rubella surveillance include: universal use zero-reporting (this is mandatory in only three of the 29 countries surveyed); collection of information on imported cases (20 countries currently collect this); and adoption of uniform case definitions (22 countries use the EU case definition).

Alongside strengthening of surveillance systems, key strategies towards meeting the objective of eliminating measles and rubella include the maintenance of very high vaccination coverage in infants and providing immunisation opportunities for susceptible populations.