RUBELLA
(Rubella virus)

Clinical Criteria
Any person with sudden onset of generalised maculo-papular rash
AND
At least one of the following five:
– Cervical adenopathy
– Sub-occipital adenopathy
– Post-auricular adenopathy
– Arthralgia
– Arthritis

Laboratory Criteria
- Laboratory criteria for case confirmation

At least one of the following three:
– Isolation of rubella virus from a clinical specimen
– Detection of rubella virus nucleic acid in a clinical specimen
– Rubella virus specific antibody response (IgG) in serum or saliva

- Laboratory criteria for probable case

– Rubella virus specific antibody response (IgM¹⁶)
Laboratory results need to be interpreted according to the vaccination status

Epidemiological Criteria
An epidemiological link by human to human transmission

Case Classification
A. Possible case
Any person meeting the clinical criteria
B. Probable case
Any person meeting the clinical criteria and with at least one of the following two:
– An epidemiological link
– Meeting the laboratory criteria for a probable case
C. Confirmed case
Any person not recently vaccinated and meeting the laboratory criteria for case confirmation
In case of recent vaccination, a person with detection of wild-type rubella virus strain

¹⁶ When rubella in pregnancy is suspected, further confirmation of a positive rubella IgM results is
required (e.g. a rubella specific IgG avidity test showing a low avidity). In certain situations, such as
confirmed rubella outbreaks detection of rubella virus IgM can be considered confirmatory in nonpregnant
cases.