Rubella (German measles)

Rubella, also known as German measles, is an infection caused by a virus. It can lead to fever, sore throat and swollen glands. Rubella is usually a mild illness in children accompanied by a rash and fever lasting 2 to 3 days. It is more severe in teenagers and adults. If a woman is infected with rubella during pregnancy, the virus can infect the baby and cause "congenital rubella syndrome (CRS)" which results in malformations of the baby’s brain, eye, heart and other organs, and even death. The primary goal of the vaccine is to prevent infection in pregnant women.

Routine infant immunization programs have significantly decreased the incidence of rubella. Since the late 1990s there have been only isolated clusters of the disease among unimmunized people.

Public Health Agency of Canada

Canadian Coalition for Immunization for Awareness and Promotion

Caring for Kids

World Health Organization