Rubella (German measles): guidance, data and analysis
The symptoms, diagnosis, management, surveillance and epidemiology of rubella (German measles).
Rubella, also know as German measles, is a mild disease caused by togavirus. Transmission is through direct contact with an infected person or droplet spread.
Rubella can cause serious complications for pregnant women and their unborn baby.
Symptoms of rubella include:
- a transient red rash
- swollen lymph glands around the ears and back of the head
- occasionally arthritis (any abnormality of a joint caused by inflammation) and arthralgia (pain in a joint caused by inflammation) in adults
Rubella is a notifiable disease in England and Wales.
Rubella is vaccine preventable. In the UK, children receive 2 doses of the combined measles mumps rubella (MMR) vaccine as part of the routine childhood immunisation schedule.
For more information about rubella, visit NHS.UK.
Diagnosis
The Immunisation and Diagnosis Unit (IDU) provides diagnostic and reference services for measles, mumps and rubella (MMR).
Clinical management
Data collection
Epidemiology
For older data, view the health protection archive.
Vaccination
Immunisation is the most effective way to protect against rubella. Children should receive 2 doses of measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccinations before the age of 5 years.
In April 2013, Public Health England (now UK Health Security Agency, or UKHSA), NHS England and the Department of Health announced a national catch-up programme to increase MMR vaccination uptake in children and teenagers.
Vaccine uptake data for MMR are available through the Cover of vaccination evaluated rapidly (COVER) programme.
Health protection reports
Updates to this page
Last updated 22 November 2022 + show all updates
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Added health protection reports for 2015 to 2022.
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Added the measles and rubella elimination UK strategy.
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Revised in line with change about end of screening for rubella susceptibility in pregnant women, 1 April 2016.
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First published.