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(IASR 34: 90, April 2013)

                                                                                                     January 29, 2013 issued
                                                                                            [February 26, 2013 amended]

Guidance on Strengthening Measures for Prevention and Control of Rubella and Congenital Rubella Syndrome

                                                        (Extract)
Notice to Health Authorities in Prefectures, Cities having Health Centers, and Special Wards
 
For prevention of congenital rubella syndrome (CRS), sufficient information on CRS 
should be given to unvaccinated persons for rubella, persons without rubella infection 
history, women expecting pregnancy and health care workers involved in perinatal care. 
It is further requested:
1. To conduct active vaccine campaign targeting eligible population groups for routine 
 vaccination;
2. To give thorough explanations on CRS preventive measures to; 
              - the husband, children and other family members of pregnant woman;
              - women in 10s-40s, particularly those expecting pregnancy;
              - and women in
 early puerperal phase; and
    to consider vaccination on voluntary basis unless their rubella antibody titer is 
    sufficiently high.
3. To advise obstetrics and gynecology medical professionals to provide the pregnant 
    women’s families with necessary information.  Appropriate counseling should be 
    provided to pregnant women who are found or suspected to be infected with rubella 
    so that the diagnosis may not cause unnecessary anxiety in them.
4. To make all the pediatric hospitals aware that:
             - CRS belongs to a disease category, which Infectious Diseases Control Law 
                requests reporting of the all cases
             - In prefectures where rubella cases are increasing, babies born to rubella 
               antibody negative or weakly positive mothers should be followed carefully 
               taking the possibility of CRS into account

 

                                                 Tuberculosis and Infectious Diseases Control Division,
                                                                       Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

Copyright 1998 National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan