Rubella is contagious infectious disease caused by the rubella virus. The infection is usually mild sub-clinical. Possible presenting symptoms are fever, red rash blotchy and swollen lymph glands. The infection is transmitted by respiratory droplets from the nose or throat mucous secretions of infected individual.

The incubation period for rubella ranges between 14 and 21 days. Childhood infection is often mild and resolves without complication. But when infection is contracted by women in early pregnancy, the virus passes through the pregnant woman's bloodstream to infect her unborn child. That may present serious fetus complications, fetal death or birth defects which is called congenital rubella syndrome (CRS).