IMMUNE STATUS OF HEALTH CARE PERSONNEL FROM VARIOUS GEOGRAPHICAL AREAS IN INDIA AGAINST RUBELLA: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Rubella is a mild illness that presents with fever and rash with the infection occurring sub clinically. Its public health importance is due to its teratogenic effects on the growing foetus in the first trimester of pregnancy. There is insufficient data in India with regard to rubella virus immunity in the community. Occupational exposure of health care personnel to rubella infection disease requires special attention. Hence this study was taken up to analyse the rubella seroprevalence rate according to age, geographical distribution, socio-economic class among health care personnel. Study design: Cross-sectional study. Methodology: 161 subjects aged between 15 to 30 years were given background information about the study and those who provided voluntary and written consent were enrolled. Study was conducted in the month of August 2010. Analysis of rubella specific IgG and IgM antibodies was done by ELISA. Results: Among 161 subjects, 88 subjects were from South India, 42 from North India, 19 from Eastern region and 12 were from the western region of India. Serum IgG positivity was the highest 100% in subjects hailing from Western India, followed by 84.2% from Eastern India and 83.3% in subjects from north India. Subjects from South India showed the lowest seropositivity of 68.18%. Conclusion: Immunisation of health care personnel against rubella and whole population of India for rubella immunity is necessary.