A health ministry official. The number of cases of rubella infections has soared past 10,000 in the first six months of this year. (New York Times)
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Most Japanese over age 50 had rubella in their youth and are immune, so the most vulnerable group is young men, and many outbreaks are in workplaces.
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Maria
I heard recently that a young man of my acquaintance was warned by his workplace that the employees might have to have this vaccination - it's a medical supplies company, so they visit hospitals, more risk of infection? He hasn't had to have the vaccination as yet. A bit of a panic, then.
Frungy
The health department needs some doctors. Rubella is causes by the measles virus resurfacing during times of stress when the immune system is suppressed. There is no vaccination and no immunity.
nath
Frungy, congratulations, I see you have no idea what you're talking about.
Viclovesdrama
Of course there is a vaccine and it's quite effective if all children are vaccinated, boys and girls. But you can still get rubella as I found out painfully 3 years ago. I got vaccinated in my childhood as all kids do in my country but after a trip to Mexico I came down with rubella. The explanation I got was that these vaccines are (or at least the ones used during in my childhood) only 80%-90% effective. To be almost 100% effective, vaccinating twice would have been good, but once the most cost-effective/good enough method if whole populations are vaccinated. My advise: even if you are vaccinated, don't hang around people with rubella :-)
sorge
Well, I had an NHS rubella vaccine over 30 years ago and was still struck down with this in Miyagi last month, so immunity isn't total. At least it was only a few sore days off work.
mountainpear
@Frungy I think you are confusing rubella and measles with chickenpox and shingles(zoster). Chickenpox can return later on in life as shingles. Rubella is also known as German measles but it ihttp://www.japantoday.com/category/quote-of-the-day/view/most-japanese-over-age-50-had-rubella-in-their-youth-and-are-immune-so-the-most-vulnerable-group-is-young-men-and-many-outbreaks-are-in-workplaces#tool_buttons a different virus to measles.