Epidemiologic Notes and Reports Rubella Among Basic Trainees - South Carolina At Fort Jackson, South Carolina, 808 patients with rubella-like illness were hospitalized in 1974, 511 in 1975, and 320 in the period January 1-May 1, 1976. Paired sera, collected from a representative sample of these patients, have consistently confirmed the diagnosis. Cases in males have outnumbered those in females by 2.8:1; males outnumber females on the base by approximately 4:1. No major complications of rubella (persistent arthritis, encephalitis) have been observed. Recruits from Puerto Rico accounted for a dispropor. tionately large percentage of the cases. During the period January 1-June 1, 1974, 140 cases (23%) occurred in this group (28 cases per month). During this same period, these recruits constituted only 7% of the trainees. Rubella HI testing revealed 88% to 96% of recruits from the continental U.S. to be immune (HI titer >1:10), compared with only 65% of male recruits from Puerto Rico (Table 3). Since September 1, 1974, all incoming male recruits from Puerto Rico were given rubella vaccine. In the period September 1974-May 1976, 33 cases of rubella occurred in this group (1.7 cases per month). Many of these cases oc DISEASE curred within one incubation period of the date of vacci nation; others occurred later and may represent vaccine failure. Because of the morbidity and time lost from training, beginning January 16, 1976, all incoming male basic trainees received vaccine. On April 21, 1975, an ongoing program was initiated for the selective vaccination of incoming female recruits. Vaccine is offered to susceptible, non-pregnant women. From April 21, 1975 to March 1, 1976, 1,671 susceptible women were identified; 569 (34%) received rubella vaccine. Reported by SJ Vaeth, MAJ, MC, USA, JF John, MAJ, MC, USA, JP Canby, COL, MC, USA, Moncrief Army Hospital, Fort Jackson, SC. Aseptic meningitis Brucellosis.. Diphtheria Post-Infectious 1 12 8 *Delayed Reports: Chickenpox: N. Mex. add 8, Calif, add 1, Guam add 1; Enceph: N. J. add 1; Hep. B: Del. delete 1; Hep. A: Del, add 2, N. Mex. delete 5, Nev. add 5; Hep. unsp. Del. add 4 Virgin Islands NN: Not notifiable *Delayed Reports: TB: Mich. delete 2, Del. delete 1, Nev. add 3, Alaska add 7, V.1. add 2; Typhoid: Calif. add 4; RMSF: Texas delete 1; GC: Pa. delete 1, Nebr. add 21, Del. delete 61 civ.; add 61 mil., Nev. add 97, Guam add 5, V.I. add 4; Syphilis: lowa delete 8, Nev. add 2, V.I. add 4 The Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, circulation 52,000, is published by the Center for Disease Control, Atlanta, Georgia. The data in this report are provisional, based on weekly telegraphs to CDC by state health departments. The reporting week concludes at close of business on Friday; compiled data on a national basis are officially released to the public on the suc ceeding Friday. The editor welcomes accounts of interesting cases, outbreaks, environmental hazards, or other public health problems of current interest to health officials. Send reports to: Center for Disease Control, Attn.: Editor, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, Atlanta, Georgia 30333. Send mailing list additions, deletions, and address changes to: Center for Disease Control, Attn.: Distribution Services, GSO, 1-SB-36, Atlanta, Georgia 30333. When requesting changes be sure to give your former address, including zip code and mailing list code number, or send an old address label. |