Virus
Rubella virus
German measles and congenital rubella
roo-BELL-uh VY-rus
High-yield clue
Mild rash with posterior auricular/occipital lymphadenopathy, but severe congenital rubella syndrome after first-trimester infection, is the key clue.
Overview
An enveloped positive-sense RNA virus, recently reclassified into family Matonaviridae, that causes a mild rash illness in children but is a major teratogen when acquired early in pregnancy.
Classification
- RNA virus
- Positive-sense single-stranded RNA
- Enveloped
- Family Matonaviridae, genus Rubivirus (Rubivirus rubellae)
Lab & identification clues
- Rubella-specific IgM/IgG serology vocabulary
- RT-PCR detection concept
- Congenital rubella screening vocabulary
- Matonaviridae reclassification note
Associations
- 'Three-day measles' / German measles rash
- Congenital rubella syndrome (cataracts, cardiac defects, deafness)
- Respiratory-droplet and transplacental transmission
- MMR vaccine prevention history
Commonly confused with
- Measles virus
- Parvovirus B19
Your notes
Original student-study summary. Sources checked: OpenStax Microbiology 2e, NCBI Bookshelf Medical Microbiology, and CDC topic pages where applicable; reviewed 2026-06. Educational only; no diagnosis, treatment, dosing, or specimen-handling guidance.