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Rubella, also known as German measles, is a contagious disease caused by the rubella virus. Symptoms of this disease include low-grade fever, sore throat, and a rash that starts on the face and spreads to the rest of the body. Rubella can infect anyone, but serious birth defects and even miscarriage can occur if a pregnant woman is infected with the virus. The virus can also cause congenital rubella syndrome, one of the leading causes of deafness and eye disease in infants. Rubella is transmitted through direct contact with the nasal or throat secretions of an infected individual (i.e. coughing, sneezing, etc.). The best method of protection against this virus is the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine.