Seroprevalence of rubella in female migrant factory workers in Shenzhen, China.

/ / Faculty Research in Asia, Research

CGPH FACULTY: Hildy Fong

DATE OF PUBLICATION: November 2010

REGION: Asia

REFERENCE:
Mou J, Griffiths SM, Fong HF, Hu Q, Xie X, He Y, Ma H, Cheng J. Seroprevalence of rubella in female migrant factory workers in Shenzhen, China. Vaccine. 2010 Nov 23;28(50):7844-51. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2010.09.082. Epub 2010 Oct 29.”

SUMMARY/ABSTRACT: “BACKGROUND: Rubella remains a common disease in Mainland China and is a major cause of severe birth defects from Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS). Rubella-containing vaccines were not included in China’s National Expanded Program of Immunization (NEPI) until December 2007. In Shenzhen, women of childbearing age make up a large percentage of its migrant factory worker population. Understanding their immunity to rubella is critical in furthering efforts towards rubella vaccination programs. CONCLUSIONS:
Seroprevalence of antibodies to rubella in Shenzhen, China amongst female migrant workers is too low to provide immunity in the population. Given the high numbers of women of childbearing age amongst Shenzhen migrant factory workers coming from many provinces across China, local health authorities in Shenzhen should consider combining new rubella immunization programs with existing measles immunization efforts in this population.”

ACCESS: Link to Pubmed