Rubella, also known as German measles, is an infection caused by the rubella virus. Rubella is a common infection in many areas of the world. People are infectious during the week before and after the appearance of the rash that German measles creates. Rates of disease have decreased in many areas including the Americas as a result of vaccination. On April 29, 2015, the World Health Organization declared the Americas officially free of rubella transmission. Rubella can affect anyone of any age and is generally a mild disease, rare in infants or those over the age of 40 (Ghafourian). The older the person is the more severe the symptoms are likely to be. Up to 60% of older girls or women experience joint pain or arthritic type symptoms with rubella
