Rubella in Bermuda

Between March 29 and July 23, 1971, two hundred sixty cases of rubella occurred in Bermuda residents. Nearly three quarters of the patients were 10 years of age or older. Rash, low-grade fever, and adenopathy were characteristic; over 40% had joint discomfort. A serologic survey conducted in nursery, elementary, and secondary schools indicated that 65.5% of 296 children ages 4 through 18 years were susceptible to rubella. An island-wide rubella vaccination program was carried out from June 3 to July 9, reaching over 80% of elementary and nursery schoolchildren. Cessation of cases in elementary schoolchildren, followed shortly by termination of the entire epidemic, suggests that the vaccination program was successful in halting further spread of rubella and that rubella vaccine is an effective tool in controlling rubella epidemics.