Rubella (also known as "German measles") is caused by a different virus than measles. Rubella does cause a rash but it is fainter than the measles rash and lasts for only a few days. Only about half of those infected with the rubella virus have symptoms; others have a slight fever and a feel general feeling of discomfort.
The greatest threat rubella poses is to unborn babies. If a woman gets rubella during pregnancy, especially during early pregnancy, it can lead to birth defects, premature delivery or fetal death.
People in the U.S. who have not been infected with the rubella virus and who have not been vaccinated against the disease may be susceptible to infection. The rubella vaccine was licensed in 1969, and since that time rubella cases declined rapidly in the US. As a result, rubella is no longer endemic in this country, and cases of the disease are not seen often. However, rubella can be brought into the US by travelers from countries where the disease is still present or by US residents who are not vaccinated.
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