Rubella could have an impact on an unborn child. The spread of rubella infection must be contained.
The number of people infected with rubella has been rising, mainly in the Kanto region. The number of reported cases as of Sept. 9 totaled 496, reaching five times the number reported last year. As things stand now, the epidemic this year could turn out to be as severe as the one seen in 2013, when the number of rubella patients topped 10,000.
The National Institute of Infectious Diseases estimates that there is a possibility of rubella infection spreading throughout the country in the future. Vigilance must not slacken.
Rubella causes lymph glands behind the ears, in the neck and other parts of the body to become swollen. Such symptoms as a full-body rash and a high temperature also develop. The infectious potential of the virus is relatively strong and it infects others through airborne droplets from sneezing, for instance.
The latent period before the symptoms start is usually two to three weeks, but there are cases in which no symptoms appear. There are even cases in which carriers of the virus spread the infection unwittingly.
There are also cases in which a person who has been infected while staying in a rubella-affected area overseas does not show any symptoms at the time of returning to their country. What is important is that people who notice an abnormal change in their physical condition after a while should consult a doctor promptly.
Particular attention should be given to women in the early stage of pregnancy. If one gets rubella early in pregnancy, there is a risk of the baby developing congenital rubella syndrome. Major symptoms include cataracts, hearing defects and heart disease. There are also cases in which the physical and mental development of a child is affected in other ways. During the widespread rubella outbreak in 2013, some infants even died.
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Vaccination is effective in preventing rubella. Women 55 or younger have been inoculated against rubella, in principle, but there are some who have not gained enough immunity. Such cases should be confirmed through a checkup.
But a woman cannot be vaccinated during her pregnancy. Pregnant women with no immunity need to take studious care so as not to be infected from those around them. Secure preventive measures against infection, including on the part of their families, are called for.
Adult men hold the key to preventing the spread of infection. Ninety percent of this year's patients are adults, and the number of male patients is four times greater than that of female patients. It is particularly prevalent among men in their 30s through 50s.
That is because most of the men in these generations have not undergone regular vaccinations. In order not to become vectors of rubella infection, they should get a checkup or receive a vaccination.
As workplaces tend to become venues for spreading the infection, companies should also assume a great role. Companies that include pregnant women need to make efforts to raise their employees' awareness and so do companies whose workers often take business trips abroad.
The government has set a target of realizing the "elimination of rubella" by 2020. Should the epidemic linger till the time of the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, it could put a damper on the precious event.
At the time of the 2013 rubella outbreak, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention called on pregnant women who had not taken sufficient preventive measures not to go to Japan.
In Europe and the United States, the elimination of rubella through such means as vaccination is advancing steadily. Bringing to an end to the rubella epidemic swiftly is also called for in Japan.
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 25, 2018)
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