Changes in the Epidemiological Pattern of Rubella in Taiwan Area (I)

1989 Vol.5 NO.3

Correspondence Author：

Abstract：

Taiwan is an island. Rubella is not considered endemic in Taiwan Area. There had been four major epidemics in Taiwan Area before 1977: 1943-44, 1957-58, 1968-69, and 1977, approximately one every ten years. Between epidemics, no case was reported. Grayston in 1967 made a retrospective study of the 1957-58 epidemic and found that 25% of pregnant women contracted with rubella during the first three months of pregnancy would deliver deformed babies.
A question is, more frequent contact with the outer world as a result of rapid economic development; whether rubella has become endemic in Taiwan Area. For effective prevention, a study on the trend of rubella is essential.