Rubella, also known as German measles, is a disease caused by the rubella virus.
Rubella is usually a mild illness but can be very serious for people who are pregnant and their unborn babies. Rubella in pregnancy can cause a miscarriage or stillbirth. Babies may be born with severe birth defects, including deafness, eye problems, heart defects, and liver, spleen or brain damage. This is called congenital rubella syndrome (CRS). CRS occurs in about 9 out of 10 babies born to people infected with rubella virus in the first 3 months of their pregnancy. CRS is rare in Canada due to routine immunization.
There are 2 vaccines available in B.C. that protect against rubella:
The vaccines are free as part of routine childhood immunizations and to others who need protection against rubella. For more information, visit:
If you are of childbearing age, make sure you are immune to rubella before getting pregnant. If you are not immune (you have not had the disease or been immunized), you should get the MMR vaccine and then wait one month before getting pregnant.
If you are pregnant and do not know if you are immune to rubella, you will be offered a blood test for rubella immunity as part of your prenatal care. If you are not immune, you should be immunized after your pregnancy, preferably before leaving the hospital. The rubella vaccine should not be given during pregnancy as a general precaution of avoiding live vaccines in pregnancy. If you received a rubella vaccine during pregnancy, it is not a reason to end your pregnancy. The vaccine has never been found to cause CRS.
Rubella is spread by contact with saliva or mucus from the mouth, nose or throat of a person with rubella. The rubella virus spreads through droplets in the air when a person with rubella coughs or sneezes. You can become infected if you breathe in these droplets or touch objects and surfaces contaminated with the virus. Sharing food, drinks or cigarettes, or kissing someone with rubella can also put you at risk.
Symptoms of rubella may include a rash, fever, joint aches, headache, discomfort, runny nose and irritated eyes. The lymph nodes located behind the ears and at the back of the neck may swell and feel painful.
The rash, which may be itchy, begins first on the face and then moves downwards from the head to the feet. It lasts about 3 to 5 days. Up to half of all rubella infections show no symptoms of a rash.
Symptoms usually appear 14 to 17 days after exposure to the rubella virus.
If you have been exposed to someone with rubella and have not had the disease or one dose of a rubella vaccine, you should get immunized. This will protect you against future exposure to the rubella virus. Contact your health care provider to schedule an appointment to get immunized.
If you are pregnant and may have been exposed to rubella, speak with a health care provider to determine if you are immune to rubella. If you have been exposed and are not immune, you will need blood tests to determine if you have been infected.
If you have a fever and rash and think you may have rubella, especially if you have been in contact with someone with rubella or traveled to an area with a rubella outbreak, get examined by a health care provider. It is best to call ahead so you can be seen quickly and without exposing other people. Rubella can spread easily in places like waiting rooms and emergency rooms. The doctor or nurse can make sure that you are taken into a closed area for an examination and attend the clinic at a time when the waiting room is empty. Bring your immunization record with you. A physical examination, blood test, and throat swab or urine sample will be collected to make the diagnosis of rubella.
A person with rubella can spread the virus to others from 7 days before to 7 days or more after the rash first appears. If you have rubella, you can help prevent spreading it to others, especially people who are pregnant, by:
After seeing a health care provider, the following home treatment tips may help you to be more comfortable while you rest and recover.
Acetaminophen (e.g. Tylenol®) or ibuprofen* (e.g. Advil®) can be given for fever or soreness. ASA (e.g. Aspirin®) should not be given to anyone under 18 years of age due to the risk of Reye Syndrome.
*Ibuprofen should not be given to children under 6 months of age without first speaking to your health care provider.
For more information on Reye Syndrome, see HealthLinkBC File #84 Reye Syndrome.
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