Role of the virology diagnosis laboratory in the surveillance of rubella virus: Cuba 1988/2000

Abstract

In Cuba, on the basis of Measles Elimination Program, the incidence of this disease decline, and was necessary to test rubella virus as a possible etiology agent that produce fever and rash illness. To reach this goal, Cuba developed rubella elimination strategies with integrated epidemiologic and laboratory surveillance. In the country, the vaccination program against rubella started in 1982 by vaccinating 12–14 years old females, with a special surveillance program with laboratory study of all suspected cases. Through 1988–2000, the Serology Diagnosis Laboratory in the Virology Branch of Pedro Kourí Institute had the responsibility to do the measles and rubella surveillance and play a key roll in the elimination strategies of these diseases. For confirmation of all suspected cases, 8566 serum samples with the suspected diagnosis of measles or rubella from different provinces in Cuba were studied in the laboratory using different techniques as haemagglutination inhibition test (HIA), ultra micro analytic assay (UMA); and in 1995 by the newly introduced IgM ELISA, which was used taken only one sample in the acute phase of the disease. These techniques allowed knowing that the annual number of reported rubella cases in the country decreased substantially after the implementation, in 1986, of the second vaccine policy, that of vaccinating women of childbearing age. However, in 1989, was detected an outbreak of rubella virus infection that had occurred in young adults male 15–19 age groups in Matanzas’ province. The last three indigenous cases of this disease were confirmed by our laboratory in 1995, after national vaccine coverage over 95%.