At a glance
Before the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccination program, rubella was a common infection in the United States. Rubella was eliminated in 2004, but can be brought into the United States by people who get infected in other countries.
Rubella in the United States
Did you know that rubella was eliminated from the United States in 2004?
2024 marks the 20th anniversary of this public health success. Rubella elimination is defined as the absence of continuous disease transmission for 12 months or more in a specific geographic area.
Rubella is no longer endemic (constantly present) in the United States. However, rubella remains a problem in other parts of the world. It can still be brought into the United States by people who get infected in other countries and can spread to unvaccinated people.
Before the vaccine
The rubella vaccine became available in 1969 and the combined measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccination program started in 1971. Before that, rubella was a common and widespread infection in the United States.
People who contract rubella during pregnancy are at risk for miscarriage or stillbirth. Their developing babies are at risk for severe birth defects with devastating, lifelong consequences.
Congenital rubella syndrome (CRS)
During the last major rubella epidemic in the United States from 1964 to 1965, an estimated:
- 12.5 million people got rubella
- 11,000 pregnant people lost their babies
- 2,100 newborns died
- 20,000 babies were born with congenital rubella syndrome (CRS)
Once the vaccine became widely used, the number of people infected with rubella in the United States dropped dramatically.
Today
Today, fewer than 10 people in the United States are reported as having rubella each year. Since 2012, most rubella cases had evidence that they were infected when they were living or traveling outside the United States.
The U.S. elimination of rubella and the widespread impact on the safety and health of mothers and babies is one of our greatest public health success stories.