Rubella-epidemie 2004-2005: surveillance van congenitale gevolgen

In 2004-2005, the Netherlands experienced an outbreak of rubella. The Centre for Infectious Disease Control (CIb/RIVM) monitors characteristics and the extent of the outbreak and reports on the disease-burden of rubella, congenital rubella-virus infection (CRI) and congenital rubella syndrome (CRS). In this article, the used methods for surveillance and the results are presented and discussed. Data available so far, indicate that 32 pregnant women were infected during the outbreak, resulting in 15 cases of CRI. Nine of these infants showed symptoms associated with CRS. Surveillance of the congenital consequences of the rubella-epidemic is a difficult task, but important for effective treatment, increasing of the knowledgebase and immunization and antenatal screening policy