Frequency of Rubella Antibodies in the Population of Some Tropical African Countries

Data on the seroepidemiology of rubella in tropical Africa have been scarce. However, reports of serologic surveys in many countries within the last few years have changed this situation. Studies in Angola have shown an overall rate of positivity for rubella antibodies of 73% among females between t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Reviews of infectious diseases 1985-03, Vol.7, p.S68-S71
Main Author: Mingle, J A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Africa
Age groups
Antibodies
Antibodies, Viral - analysis
Censuses
Child
Child, Preschool
Epidemics
Epidemiology
Female
Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests
Humans
Immunity
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Infections
Medical schools
Pregnancy
Reproduction
Rubella
Rubella - epidemiology
Rubella virus - immunology
Session II: Epidemiology of Rubella and Congenital Rubella Infection
Tropical Medicine
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Summary:Data on the seroepidemiology of rubella in tropical Africa have been scarce. However, reports of serologic surveys in many countries within the last few years have changed this situation. Studies in Angola have shown an overall rate of positivity for rubella antibodies of 73% among females between the ages of 15 and 19 years. In the group between five and nine years of age, 74% had rubella antibodies. Therefore, Angolans acquired natural immunity before beginning school. In Ghana, >70% of women of childbearing age had rubella antibodies, and in Nigeria 60% had antibodies. In The Gambia, by 14 years of age, 93% or more of the female population had immunity to rubella. Similar high levels were found in surveys conducted in Ethiopia, Upper Volta, and Uganda. However, a low level of 33% was recorded in Togo. The reports indicate that rubella infection is widespread and endemic on the African continent.
ISSN:0162-0886