[Measles and rubella].

Measles and rubella should be considered as infectious diseases to be prevented through vaccination rather than as diseases to be treated. If measles and rubella live vaccines are used appropriately, it is possible not only to prevent children contracting measles and rubella but also to prevent outbreaks of these diseases, and to eradicate newborns with congenital rubella syndrome. Changes in the epidemic situation of measles resulting from both vaccination and genetic alteration of the virus have caused new problems such as modified measles and adult measles. To resolve these problems it is necessary to maintain an adequate coverage with the measles vaccination. On the other hand, rubella outbreaks have been controlled by vaccinations and newborns with congenital rubella syndrome are rarely reported. However, the vaccination coverage against rubella has decreased in recent years, and the reoccurrence of the congenital rubella syndrome has already been reported in some regions. The introduction of the measles-rubella combined vaccine and twice vaccination schedule is indispensable in maintaining adequate vaccination coverage and keeping antibody levels against measles and rubella sufficiently high.