[Seroprevalence of rubella in Kinshasa (Zaire)]. / Séroprévalence de la rubéole a Kinshasa (Zaïre).

A serosurvey of rubella was carried out by haemagglutination inhibition and IgM assay among 106 newborn infants (91% positive); 101 suckling infants aged 9-18 months (32.7% positive); 100 children aged 2-4 (58% positive); and 100 young girls 9-11 (68% positive), while 93% of mothers showed the presence of protective antibodies. These figures indicated that large numbers of women old enough to bear children are susceptible to infection with rubella, at least early in life. A vaccination programme is therefore recommended for one year-old children of both sexes and again for young girls prior to puberty.