Rubella
Rubella (also known as German measles) is a rare illness caused by a virus. It is spread through coughs and sneezes.
Symptoms can take two to three weeks to develop. People can pass the disease to others before they even know they have it. The main symptom of rubella is a spotty rash that starts on the face or behind the ears and spreads to the neck and body. Other symptoms include swollen glands and a high temperature (fever).
Catching rubella while pregnant can be very serious for the unborn baby. It can seriously damage their sight, hearing, heart, and brain. This condition is called congenital rubella syndrome (CRS).
Learn more
If you would like to learn more about the vaccines, or the diseases they protect against, a number of information resources are available to help.
You can also call NHS 111 (external site) or your GP surgery for advice if you have any questions.
Further information
Data
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Notifications of rubella
This dashboard presents data on notifications of rubella in Wales over time. It shows trends…