First Rubella Case Since 1999 Reported In Travis County

AUSTIN, TX — Austin Public Health is investigating a confirmed rubella case less than a month after confirming the first measles case in Travis County since 1999, officials said Thursday.

Officials noted the emergence of the rubella case also is the first time since 1999 that a Travis County resident was afflicted with the malady. Nationwide, officials said, there are typically less than ten rubella cases annually. Most of those, health officials noted, are associated with international travel.

Rubella is covered by the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine, health officials explained in their website. While Austin/Travis County has a relatively high vaccination rate, there are pockets of communities where vaccination opt-outs bring herd immunity to an unstable status, officials added.

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Those who are greatly impacted by rubella are children and pregnant women and their unborn child:

• Non-vaccinated children who attend school with an infected child are required by state law to stay home for 21 days following contact.
• Non-vaccinated pregnant women have a high risk of congenital rubella syndrome. Congenital rubella syndrome can lead to birth defects including deafness, cataracts, heart defects, intellectual disabilities, or liver and spleen damage. There is also an increased risk of miscarriage or stillbirth.

“Along with the requirement to keep your unvaccinated child home for weeks, there are significant health risks to being exposed to rubella,” Dr. Mark Escott, interim health authority and medical director for Austin Public Health, said in a prepared statement. “Please, check if you and your family are up-to-date on vaccinations to prevent the comeback of these previously eliminated diseases.”

Rubella is less contagious than measles, but the virus has similar symptoms and is contracted the same way. Rubella is spread mainly through droplets that come from a sick person’s nose and mouth when they cough, sneeze or talk. These droplets can travel up to 6 feet and land on people nearby or inhaled into the lungs. It also can spread when you touch virus-contaminated objects, such as a doorknob and then touch your face, officials explained.

Rubella symptoms include a red rash, low-grade fever, headache, mild pink eye, swollen lymph nodes, cough or runny nose. "Please stay home if you experience any of these symptoms and call your medical provider," health officials urged.

The Centers for Disease Controlnotes the contagious nature of the disease, adding that the resulting rash starts on the face before spreading to the rest of the body. The disease also is commonly known as German measles.