What is rubella?

Rubella Fact Sheet

What is rubella?

Rubella, also known as the German measles, is a highly contagious viral disease that causes fever and rash.

How serious is rubella?

Rubella is usually a mild disease in children; adults tend to have more complications. The main concern with rubella disease, however, is Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS), the result when the rubella virus infects a pregnant woman and attacks the developing fetus. Rubella infection in the first trimester of pregnancy can lead to fetal death, premature delivery, and serious birth defects.

What are the symptoms?

Common symptoms include: mild fever, headache, swelling of the lymph glands and a rash that lasts about 3 days. About 50% of all people who get the disease do not get the rash. Some people may experience swollen and painful joints. The disease may also cause swelling of the brain (encephalitis), but this is very rare.

How is rubella spread?

The rubella virus is found in the noses and throats of infected people. Direct contact with these secretions or exposure to the cough or sneeze of an infected person can spread the disease. The first symptoms usually appear between 14-17 days after a person is exposed, but they may not appear until after 21 days.

How long is a person with rubella contagious?

The disease is most contagious when the rash is erupting, but the virus can be spread from seven days before to seven days after the rash begins.

Who gets rubella?

Due to good immunization coverage, rubella and CRS are rare in the United States at the present time. However, outbreaks continue to occur in groups of susceptible individuals who refuse immunization for religious or philosophic reasons and among some foreign-born immigrants, who come from areas where rubella vaccine is not routinely used. Rubella can be imported into the United States at any time.

Groups who are at high-risk include:

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  Anyone who has never had rubella and has never been vaccinated.
  
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  Infants ≤ 12 months old, because they are too young to be vaccinated.
  

How is rubella diagnosed?

Since the symptoms and rash associated with rubella often look like other diseases the only sure test for rubella is a blood test.

How is rubella treated?

There is no specific treatment for rubella.

How can you prevent rubella?

Protect your children by having them vaccinated when they are 12-15 months old. Rubella vaccine is usually given in an immunization called MMR that also protects against mumps and measles. Women who plan to have children and who are not immune should get MMR vaccine at least 3 months before getting pregnant.

Are there any health regulations for people with rubella?

People with rubella should be kept away from people who are not immune until they are well again. Anyone infected with rubella should be isolated until 7 days after the rash appears. That means they must be kept away from public places like daycare centers, school and work. State regulations also require every student enrolled or enrolling in a Kansas school to have proof of 2 doses of rubella vaccine (MMR). If a case is reported at a school or childcare setting, any persons at risk of becoming ill from rubella, including those children with immunization exemptions, will be excluded from the school or childcare setting until 21 days after the onset of the last reported illness in the setting. If the person at risk for rubella is immunized or shows proof of immunization within 24 hours of a case being reported, the exclusion will not be needed.

Where can I get more information?

Visit http://www.cdc.gov/rubella/ or call your local health department.

This fact sheet is for information only and is not intended for self-diagnosis or as a substitute for consultation. If you have any questions about the disease described above or think that you may have an infection, consult with your healthcare provider.

Version 01/2013