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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staff
Rubella, once also called German measles or three-day measles, is a contagious viral infection best known by its distinctive red rash.
Rubella is not the same as measles (rubeola), though the two illnesses do share some characteristics, including a red rash. However, rubella is caused by a different virus and is neither as infectious nor usually as severe as measles.
The measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, usually given to children in the United States twice before they reach school age, is highly effective in preventing rubella. Because of widespread use of the vaccine, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has declared rubella eliminated in the United States, but cautions parents to make sure their children are vaccinated to prevent its re-emergence.
- Hornig M, et al. Lack of association between measles virus vaccine and autism with enteropathy: A case-control study. PLoS ONE. 2008;3:e3140.
- MMR vaccine questions and answers. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/combo-vaccines/mmr/faqs-mmr-hcp.htm. Accessed May 25, 2009.
- Rubella: Make sure your child is fully immunized. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/Features/Rubella/. Accessed May 25, 2009.
- Measles, mumps & rubella (MMR) vaccines. Department of Health and Human Services. http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/vis/downloads/vis-mmr.pdf. Accessed May 25, 2009.
- Rubella no longer major public health threat in the United States. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/od/oc/media/pressrel/r050321.htm. Accessed May 25, 2009.
- Patient page: Rubella. The Journal of the American Medical Association. 2002;287:542.
- Rubella disease in-short (German measles). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/rubella/in-short-adult.htm. Accessed May 25, 2009.
- Rubella. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec14/ch193/ch193e.html. Accessed May 25, 2009.
- Passive immunization. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec14/ch169/ch169c.html. Accessed May 25, 2009.
- Facts for parents about autism and vaccine safety. American Academy of Pediatrics. http://www.aap.org/advocacy/releases/autismfactsforparents.pdf. Accessed May 25, 2009.
- Immunization safety review: Vaccines and autism. Institute of Medicine. http://www.iom.edu/?id=20155&redirect=0. Accessed May 25, 2009.
- Measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/concerns/mmr_vaccine.htm. Accessed May 25, 2009.
- Rubella (German measles). March of Dimes. http://www.marchofdimes.com/printableArticles/14332_1225.asp. Accessed May 25, 2009.
- Hoecker JL. (expert opinion.) Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. June 9, 2009.
- Hoecker JL. (expert opinion.) Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. June 10, 2009.
