Three Cases of Congenital Rubella Syndrome in the Postelimination Era - Maryland, Alabama, and Illinois, 2012

In the last major rubella epidemic in the United States, during 1964-1965, an estimated 12.5 million rubella virus infections resulted in 11,250 therapeutic or spontaneous abortions, 2,100 neonatal deaths, and 20,000 infants born with congenital rubella syndrome (CRS). Rubella virus continues to circulate elsewhere in the world, especially in regions where rubella vaccination programs have not been established, placing the United States at risk for imported cases of rubella and CRS. Among other things Seetoo et al shares that of the three cases of CRS that occurred in 2012, conditions included cardiac defects, cataracts, hearing impairment, and pericardial effusion in one infant; patent ductus arteriosus, cardiomegaly, thrombocytopenia, and pneumonitis in a second infant; and cataracts, thrombocyctopenia, and cardiac defects in a third infant.