Congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) is a group of permanent birth defects that occurs when a pregnant woman is infected with rubella virus, resulting in transmission to the fetus [1]. The condition manifests as infants born with combinations of hearing loss, heart defects, eye abnormalities, and other structural malformations [1].
Disease overview
Evidence-backed information EN 3/7 applicable sections · ZH 3/7 applicable sections Updated Oct 23, 2026
Congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) continues to cause disability among unvaccinated populations in countries with no or insufficient rubella vaccine coverage to prevent transmission [1]. The syndrome results when a pregnant woman is infected with rubella virus, particularly during the first trimester, with approximately 90% chance of transmission to the fetus [1]. CRS is characterized by multiple permanent manifestations including hearing, cardiac, and ocular defects, with estimated disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) lost per case ranging from approximately 19–39 in high-income countries and 29–39 in low- and middle-income countries [1].
Read the full clinical and epidemiological profile 4
CRS is characterized by one or more manifestations including hearing defects (sensorineural deafness), cardiac defects (commonly patent ductus arteriosus and pulmonary stenosis), and eye defects (cataracts, glaucoma, and pigmentary retinopathy) [1]. These defects typically occur in combination, with studies examining cases presenting with hearing, cardiac, and/or eye abnormalities following maternal rubella infection during the first 20 weeks of pregnancy [1].
Measles is still responsible for more than 100,000 deaths every year, down from more than 2 million deaths annually before the introduction and widespread use of measles vaccine [2].
- 1 Simons EA et al. Systematic Review of the Manifestations of Congenital Rubella Syndrome in Infants and Characterization of Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs). Risk Anal. 2016 Jul. PMID: 25115193. doi: 10.1111/risa.12263. PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25115193/
- 2 Moss WJ et al. Measles. Lancet. 2017 Dec 2. PMID: 28673424. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(17)31463-0. PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28673424/
- 3 World Health Organization. Rubella [Internet]. cited 3 Sept 2026. Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/rubella
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Recent related research
Peer reviewed Open access Strong disease match Congenital rubella syndrome
DOI 10.3390/antib15060103 ↗ Rubella Antibody Prevalence Among Women of Reproductive Age in Croatia: Implications for the Prevention of Congenital Rubella Syndrome
Antibodies
Trends of congenital rubella syndrome among infants (0–11 months old) in India: a multicentre hospital-based sentinel surveillance (2016–2025)
The Lancet Regional Health - Southeast Asia
Anti-Rubella antibodies seroprevalence among pregnant women in South-Western Romania
Frontiers in Medicine
Hospital-based surveillance suggested a high frequency of congenital rubella syndrome and the presence of genetically diverse genotype 2B rubella virus strains in Ethiopia
International Journal of Infectious Diseases
Progress Toward Rubella and Congenital Rubella Syndrome Elimination — Worldwide, 2012–2024
MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report
Showing 5 of 12 related publications.
Literature links are provided for discovery and do not alter or validate the surveillance series above.
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