Rubella (German measles)

The rubella virus is transmitted by the respiratory route. A red rash and light fever might occur in an infected indivitual; the disease can be asymptomatic. Congenital rubella syndrome can affect a fetus when a woman contracts rubella during the first trimester of her pregnancy. Damage from congenital rubella syndrome includes stillbirth, deafness, eye cataracts, heart defects, and mental retardation. Vaccination with live rubella virus provides immunity of unknown duration.