Rubella

Rubella

Rubella is sometimes called “German measles,” but it is caused by a different virus than measles and usually causes mild illness in children and adults. However, for pregnant women who get rubella, it can become serious because they can transmit rubella to their unborn child. The virus can affect the unborn child and cause the baby to be born with cataracts, deafness, or intellectual disability.

Symptoms for children and adults are mild: low-grade fever, rash, weakness, headache, runny nose, and red eyes. Rubella is spread through the air when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or speaks, which creates small droplets that contain the bacteria. Other people can become infected if they breathe in those droplets. The MMR vaccine is the best way to prevent rubella infection.