Using the two-source capture–recapture method to estimate the incidence and case ascertainment of congenital rubella syndrome in Australia, 1993–2013

Authors

  • Nicolee Martin Health Protection Policy Branch, Office of Health Protection, Australian Government Department of Health, Canberra, Australia
  • David Durrheim School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
  • Gulam Khandaker Centre for Perinatal Infection Research, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, New South Wales, Australia; National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, New South Wales, Australia; Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases & Biosecurity, University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
  • Michelle Butler Hunter New England Population Health, New South Wales, Australia
  • Cheryl Jones Centre for Perinatal Infection Research, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, New South Wales, Australia; National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, New South Wales, Australia; Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases & Biosecurity, University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5365/wpsar.2015.6.4.006

Abstract

In 2009, the Technical Advisory Group on Immunization and Vaccine Preventable Diseases (TAG) in the Western Pacific Region (WPR) endorsed the 2015 targets for accelerating control of rubella and preventing congenital rubella syndrome (CRS). (1) The global goal outlined in the Global Vaccine Action Plan (GVAP) is for five of six WHO Regions to achieve rubella elimination by 2020.(2) At the most recent TAG meeting in June 2015, 2020 was recommended as the target year for achieving rubella elimination in the WPR (unpublished).

Current evidence suggests that rubella is well controlled and may already be eliminated in Australia.(3)  CRS is now rare, with an average of one case reported annually over the past decade, occurring mostly in infants of unimmunised immigrant mothers.(4)

Rubella and CRS have been nationally notifiable since 1991 with all states and territories notifying confirmed and probable cases to the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS). The Australian Paediatric Surveillance Unit (APSU) has conducted active surveillance for congenital rubella infection since 1993.

To verify rubella and CRS elimination countries need to ensure that their surveillance systems are sufficiently sensitive to capture almost all cases. This study aims to determine the incidence of CRS in Australia and the sensitivity of CRS case ascertainment in the NNDSS.

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Published

29-03-2016

How to Cite

1.
Martin N, Durrheim D, Khandaker G, Butler M, Jones C. Using the two-source capture–recapture method to estimate the incidence and case ascertainment of congenital rubella syndrome in Australia, 1993–2013. Western Pac Surveill Response J [Internet]. 2016 Mar. 29 [cited 2026 Apr. 6];7(1). Available from: https://ojs.wpro.who.int/ojs/index.php/wpsar/article/view/407

Issue

Vol. 7 No. 1 (2016): January – March

Section

Brief Report

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