Congenital Rubella Syndrome in a Child of an Unvaccinated Woman

Acquisition of rubella during early pregnancy carries ≈90% risk of transmission to the fetus, potentially resulting in spontaneous abortion or congenital malformation. In the United States, congenital rubella is considered eliminated since 2004, due to widespread uptake of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine in childhood.

A young woman residing in Florida developed a nonspecific viral illness with a rash after she visited South Africa, her birthplace. The following month, at a first prenatal appointment at estimated 9 weeks of pregnancy, her antibody testing for rubella was positive, consistent with seroconversion after infection.