Perspectives on the role of surveillance in eliminating rubella and congenital rubella syndrome in the Americas

Abstract

Effective management and coordination in regions currently lacking surveillance capacity will require significant increases in existing human resources to manage vitally needed expanded national surveillance systems. An adequate investment in human resources and infrastructure capacity is essential for ensuring surveillance functions well. This was the experience in the Americas, particularly with the recent elimination of rubella and congenital rubella syndrome. By taking this path, other benefits to the overall public health of the nations will occur. The purpose of this paper is to present perspectives on the role of surveillance in the elimination of rubella in the Americas and to share related perspectives on capacity development in developing countries. Hopefully, these perspectives will aid efforts to strengthen surveillance and advance rubella elimination in other regions of the world.

Keywords::

• rubella elimination
• surveillance

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Key issues

• • Rubella elimination is highly feasible using the PAHO tested strategies.

• • The mass rubella vaccination campaign targeting all persons aged <40 years with MR vaccine can with ‘one stroke’ eliminate congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) from the country.

• • Adding the rubella vaccine to measles elimination strategies will provide opportunities to eliminate two diseases at once.

• • Surveillance is essential to monitor and document elimination, but requires a highly trained and well-managed work force.