MICROBIOLOGY AND NATURE

Rubella is generally a mild viral infection, but it poses a major public health problem due to its teratogenic effects, which can lead to congenital rubella syndrome (CRS). In Côte d'Ivoire, the measles and rubella (MR) vaccine was introduced into the Expanded Program on Immunization in 2018. A retrospective analysis of laboratory-confirmed rubella cases was conducted using data from the integrated measles and rubella surveillance system between January 2013 and December 2024. Serum samples from suspected measles cases were tested for the presence of rubella-specific IgM antibodies by ELISA. Positivity rates were analyzed by age group, period, and geographic distribution, and trends before and after the introduction of the MR vaccine were compared. Of the 25,244 samples tested, 1,463 (5.8%) were positive for anti-rubella IgM. Positivity rates were highest before 2018 and decreased significantly after the introduction of the MR vaccine, from 17.2% to 3.2% (p < 0.001). Higher positivity was observed in school-aged children and adolescents, with heterogeneous geographic distribution and a seasonal peak between February and May. Rubella circulation in Côte d'Ivoire has decreased significantly since the introduction of the MR vaccine. However, the persistence of transmission in certain age groups highlights the need to strengthen surveillance and implement targeted catch-up vaccination strategies to prevent CRS and eliminate rubella.