F Abbink

Publications (4)5.22 Total impact

• Article: [Rubella epidemic in the Netherlands, 2004/'05: awareness of congenital rubella syndrome required].

  S J M Hahné, F Abbink, R S van Binnendijk, W L M Ruijs, J E van Steenbergen, H E de Melker
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  ABSTRACT: Rubella is a public health problem due to the teratogenic effects associated with primary rubella infection during pregnancy (congenital rubella syndrome). Following universal rubella vaccination of infants in the Netherlands, the incidence of rubella has declined dramatically. However, since September 2004, an outbreak has occurred among unvaccinated individuals, most of whom declined vaccination based on religious beliefs. In the period 1 September 2004-22 March 2005, 166 cases of rubella were reported, including 12 pregnant women. Monitoring for signs that the epidemic has spread to other populations in the Netherlands is important because this might indicate the need for additional interventions. Awareness among health-care workers of the possible occurrence of congenital rubella syndrome should be raised. The clinical manifestations of congenital rubella syndrome are diverse, can be transient or permanent, and may not present until adolescence or adulthood. All cases of laboratory-confirmed rubella infection and congenital rubella syndrome should be reported to municipal health authorities. There is a possibility that this outbreak will spread abroad. The WHO aims to reduce the incidence of congenital rubella syndrome to < 1/100,000 live births. Health-care workers in the Netherlands should be extra alert to detect and notify rubella in a timely manner.
  Nederlands tijdschrift voor geneeskunde 06/2005; 149(21):1174-8.
• Article: Immunity to poliomyelitis in The Netherlands.

  M A Conyn-Van Spaendonck, H E de Melker, F Abbink, N Elzinga-Gholizadea, T G Kimman, T van Loon
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  ABSTRACT: Despite a vaccination coverage rate of 97%, several poliomyelitis outbreaks occurred in the Netherlands during the last three decades, all among sociogeographically clustered, unvaccinated persons. Therefore, to eradicate polio, insight into poliomyelitis immunity is particularly useful. In 1995-1996, the authors conducted a population-based study and determined neutralizing antibodies against poliovirus types 1, 2, and 3 in 9,274 sera from the general population and from religious groups rejecting vaccination. In the general population, the antibody prevalence (>/=1:8) was 96.6% (95% confidence interval (CI): 95.9, 97.2), 93.4% (95% CI: 92.3, 94.5), and 89.7% (95% CI: 88.3, 91.0) for poliovirus types 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Antibodies persisted for long periods in persons with natural immunity as well as in persons whose immunity was induced by inactivated polio vaccine. In Orthodox Reformed persons, the antibody prevalence of poliovirus types 1, 2, and 3 was 65.0% (95% CI: 57.2, 72.9), 59.0% (95% CI: 40.1, 77.9), and 68.7% (95% CI: 65.2, 72.2), respectively. The recent outbreaks clearly affected the seroprevalence profiles of Orthodox Reformed groups but not the general population. At present, there is an insufficient social and political basis for mandatory vaccination; therefore, global eradication of poliovirus seems to be the only way to protect these Orthodox Reformed persons against future poliomyelitis outbreaks.
  American Journal of Epidemiology 02/2001; 153(3):207-14. · 5.22 Impact Factor
• Article: Don't stop too soon

  T G Kimman, H E de Melker, F Abbink, N. Elzinga-Gholizadea, A M van Loon, M A E Conyn-van Spaendonck
• Article: Immunity against poliomyelitis in the Netherlands

  M A E Conyn-van Spaendonck, H E de Melker, F Abbink, N. Elzinga-Gholizadea, T G Kimman, A M van Loon