What is rubella?

Rubella is a contagious disease caused by a virus that attacks the respiratory tract. It causes a characteristic redness that first appears on the face, then spreading to the chest and the rest of the body.

The disease is usually mild in children, but it can have dangerous consequences when a pregnant woman passes it to the fetus (congenital rubella). Once a person has been infected with the disease, they are permanently immune.

Rubella can be prevented by a vaccine that is part of the childhood immunization program in Canada and France. The combined measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine has significantly reduced the incidence of this disease in countries where it has been included in the routine childhood immunization program.

Transmission

Rubella is a contagious disease that is spread by tiny droplets produced by the nose and mouth. People infected with the virus are contagious about 1 to 2 weeks before the rash and at least 4 days after the rash appears. The incubation period (that is, the time from when the virus is contracted to the onset of symptoms of the disease) can last from 12 to 23 days.

Prevalence

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) congenital rubella syndrome affects more than 100 babies every year in developing countries.

Thanks to routine immunization, rubella is very rare in Canada. Since 2002, fewer than 30 cases have been reported per year.

In France, rubella is monitored by the RENARUB network which, since 1976, has recorded rubella infections occurring during pregnancy and congenital infections. Their number has been declining since 2000 and has been less than 10 cases per year since 2006.

Complications

Rarely, rubella can cause:

• a mild form of arthritis, affecting the fingers, wrists and knees, which usually goes away on its own after about 1 month. It affects adolescents and adults more often and more women than men (up to 70% of infected adults).
• an ear infection (otitis).
• encephalitis, which affects adults more often (1 in 6000).

Pregnant women

When a woman contracts the rubella virus during the first 3 months of pregnancy, it can have serious consequences for the fetus. This condition is known as congenital rubella (or congenital rubella syndrome). Problems can cause, among other things:

• fetal death.
• cataracts.
• deafness.
• stunted growth.
• heart defects.
• development issues.

Public health authorities recommend that all women of childbearing age make sure they are immune to the rubella virus before they get pregnant. The vaccine cannot be given during pregnancy.

A new global measles and rubella plan

In April 2012, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced the launch of a new global measles and rubella plan, aimed at drastically reducing mortality associated with these two diseases. This new strategy comes mainly following the review of numerous measles epidemics, particularly in Africa, Asia, the Eastern Mediterranean and Europe. Rubella is included in this global strategy, because measles and rubella vaccines are combined into one injection.

This control plan aims to reduce global measles mortality by at least 95% by 2015 and reduce cases of congenital rubella syndrome. WHO aims to improve vaccination coverage, strengthen monitoring of the spread of the two diseases through laboratory surveillance, and better management of rubella and measles.

See the news on Passeport Santé: https://www.passeportsante.net/fr/Actualites/Nouvelles/Fiche.aspx?doc=rougeole-vers-une-baisse-de-la-mortalite-mondiale-d-au-emploi -95-by-2015