Rubella (German measles) is a contagious infection caused by the rubella virus. Rubella infection is generally a mild illness but can be more serious during pregnancy as it can cause congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) in the baby, resulting in miscarriage, stillbirth, or birth defects. 

Rubella infection was once a major cause of congenital malformations and intellectual disability in newborn babies and children in BC. Immunization with the rubella vaccine​ has eliminated rubella and CRS in BC as of 2015, though imported cases can still occur. 

From 2002 to 2009 there were between zero to three rubella cases reported in BC annually. In 2010, BC experienced the largest outbreak of rubella in over a decade with nine confirmed cases in BC residents. All of the cases in the 2010 outbreak were associated with a single workplace and the index case’s infection was compatible with acquisition during travel to the Philippines. More recently, there has been one case of rubella reported in each of 2011, 2016, and 2019.

There have been no cases of congenital rubella syndrome in BC since a single case was reported in 2005.

In BC, immunization against rubella is offered with the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine given as part of the routine childhood immunization schedule. At the seventh birthday immunization coverage assessment milestone​, approximately 86% of children in BC in the 2016 birth cohort were considered up-to-date for rubella immunization, compared to 95% of children in the 2007 and 2008 birth cohorts. Annual immunization coverage estimates for rubella have generally decreased in BC over the past decade. With decreasing coverage rates in the population, there is a chance that rubella infections can return to BC.

Symptoms of rubella include: 

Rubella is caused by infection with the rubella virus. The virus is spread through close contact with an infected person and their nose and throat secretions, such as through coughing or sneezing.

Sharing food, drinks or cigarettes, or kissing someone who has the virus can also put you at risk.

Rare complications include:

Rubella is diagnosed by the detection of rubella virus from an appropriate sample (nasopharyngeal or throat swab and/or urine) and a blood test. The BCCDC Public Health Laboratory is currently the only laboratory in BC that accepts samples for rubella testing. 

Treatment incluses rest and treating the fever (if there is one). Most people do not feel that sick.

Immunization with a rubella vaccine is the best way to prevent rubella. For more information, see the following HealthLinkBC files: 

If you have rubella, you can help prevent spreading it to others by washing hands well, covering coughs and sneezes, and not sharing food, drinks and utensils with others.