First case of rubella since 1999 confirmed in Austin
AUSTIN, Texas — Austin Public Health is investigating the first confirmed report of rubella in Travis County in more than 20 years.
This comes less than a month after officials announced one case of measles in the area -- both measles and rubella have not been confirmed in Travis County since 1999.
According to Dr. Mark Escott, Medical Director of Austin Public Health, a Travis County resident contracted rubella while traveling in Thailand earlier this month. The resident returned to the U.S but did not fly through Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.
APH officials say they're working to notify anyone in the area in close contact with the patient -- including one school. Right now, the CDC is working to confirm identities and notify people on the same plane as the patient.
"The vast majority of cases throughout the US are obtained when people travel overseas and return to the US," says Dr. Escott.
Rubella is covered by the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. For those who are unvaccinated, it's contracted similarly and has similar symptoms as the measles including: red rash, low-grade fever, headache, mild pink eye, swollen lymph nodes, cough or runny nose.
Officials say rubella is less contagious than the measles with a 10-30 percent attack rate. However, if contracted, children, pregnant women and their unborn children are greatly impacted.
Once exposed, unvaccinated pregnant women have a high risk of contracting congenital rubella syndrome which could lead to birth defects in unborn children including: deafness, cataracts, heart defects, intellectual disabilities or liver and spleen damage. There is also an increased risk of miscarriage or stillbirth.
APH officials say unvaccinated children who attend school with an infected child are required by law to stay home for 21 days after contact.
The CDC recommends children receive their first MMR shot between 12-15 months and another dose at 4-6 years old. However, officials say it's never too late to get the MMR vaccine.