Measles and mumps have both been top news items lately with headlines talking about outbreaks across North America.  According to the Centers for Disease Control in the United States and multiple other organizations, the best way of preventing these diseases is through vaccination, typically with an MMR shot.  This shot protects against measles, mumps and rubella.  Rubella is a similar disease that has gone generally unnoticed during the last few months of outbreak, so we aim to provide additional information about rubella here.

Rubella, sometimes called German measles, is a contagious disease that causes rash, fever, aching joints, and sometimes much more serious complications as well.  The disease is perhaps most perilous for pregnant mothers and their unborn children who can develop serious complications if they contract the disease.

The CDC has stated that vaccinating pregnant mothers is, sadly, not an option when it comes to the MMR vaccine.  Therefore, it is best to receive the vaccination before pregnancy, preferably at a younger age, and the CDC suggests the MMR vaccine be first given to people aged four to six-years.

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