09/19/25 Public Health Education Topic: Rubella

Per CDC

What it is

Rubella is a contagious disease caused by a virus. Rubella is sometimes called “German measles,” but it is caused by a different virus than measles.

The disease is no longer endemic (constantly present) in the United States; but rubella is common in other parts of the world. It can still be brought into the United States by people who get infected in other countries.

Key points

• Rubella spreads when an infected person coughs or sneezes and usually causes a rash that first appears on the face.

• Rubella is very dangerous during pregnancy and for developing babies.

• The best protection against rubella is measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine.

  
  

Signs and symptoms

Rubella is usually mild, with few noticeable symptoms. For children who do have symptoms, a red rash appearing on the face is typically the first sign.

Most adults who get rubella usually have a mild illness with:

• Low-grade fever

• Sore throat

• A rash that starts on the face and spreads to the rest of the body

Up to 70% of women may experience arthritis as a rubella complication; this is rare in children and men.

Who is at risk

Anyone who is not vaccinated against rubella is at risk of getting rubella.

Rubella is very dangerous during pregnancy and for developing babies. If you are pregnant and infected with rubella, you can pass rubella to your developing baby. When a baby is born with rubella, this is called congenital rubella syndrome (CRS).

Rubella can cause a miscarriage or serious birth defects in a developing baby. CRS can affect almost everything in the developing baby’s body.

To learn more visit: About Rubella | Rubella | CDC

Espanol: Acerca de la rubéola | Rubella | CDC