[Rubella in Poland in 2006].

In Poland, 20,668 cases of rubella were registered in 2006 (incidence 54.2 per 100,000 population), of which 103 (0.5%) cases were laboratory confirmed, and 173 (0.8%) were confirmed based on the epidemiological link with laboratory confirmed cases. The remaining 98.7% were reported based on clinician's diagnosis. No cases of congenital rubella syndrome were reported. In 2006 a 1.6-fold increase in incidence was noted, compared to 2005. As in 2005 rubella incidence among residents of urban areas was lower, compared to residents of rural areas (43.6 and 71.0 respectively). The incidence in men (68.5) was 67% higher than in women (40.8). The highest incidence was observed in children aged 8 and 9 years (468.6 and 488.1, respectively). Approximately 0.37% of cases required hospital admission. No rubella deaths were registered. Only 276 cases (1.3%) were confirmed either serologically or by epidemiological link to a laboratory-confirmed case. An improvement in diagnostic certainty of reported is necessary to assess the impact of 2-dose immunization implemented in 2003 on rubella epidemiology in Poland.