Why is Rubella dangerous?

Rubella infection is relatively mild for most people. However, if a woman gets Rubella during pregnancy, if can cause miscarriage or serious birth defects in the developing foetus.

What happens if you get Rubella in pregnancy?

• If a pregnant woman catches Rubella in the first 8-10 weeks of pregnancy, there is a 90% chance of miscarriage or serious birth defects in the foetus, including blindness, deafness, brain damage, heart abnormalities and learning disabilities
• The risk of the foetus being affected falls to about 20% at 16 weeks
• After 20 weeks pregnancy, infection is unlikely to cause any problems
• All pregnant women should be tested for Rubella immunity in early pregnancy (if they have not already checked before conception).
• MMR vaccine cannot be given during pregnancy, but it can be administered after the baby is born, to protect for future pregnancies.
• Any woman with symptoms of Rubella or exposed to a possible case of Rubella during pregnancy should be assessed by a doctor. Rubella re-infection without symptoms can occur in women who have had previous infection or vaccination, though damage to the foetus is very rare in these cases.

How is Rubella spread?

• When an infected person talks, sneezes or coughs, tiny droplets enter the air and can be breathed in or swallowed by other people.
• Rubella can also be spread if you touch a surface or object that an infected person has contaminated, and then touch your mouth or nose.
• It can take 2-3 weeks for symptoms to appear following exposure to an infected person.

What are the symptoms of Rubella?

Typical symptoms of Rubella include:

• Fever
• Runny or blocked nose
• Headache
• A fine, pink rash starts on the face and spreads to the chest, tummy and back,  then the arms and legs, before disappearing in the same order.
• Sore eyes
• Joint pains
• Swollen tender glands- typically around the neck  and behind the ears.

However, about half of people with Rubella get no obvious symptoms, i.e. it can be a silent infection. Rubella symptoms tend to be worse in adults (particularly the joint pains).