ORIGINAL ARTICLES

Rubella virus is a common cause of childhood fever and rash. It is of public health importance largely owing to the teratogenic effects of primary or secondary rubella infection in the first trimester of pregnancy.1 Rubella acquired in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy is associated with a nearly 90 % risk of congenital malformations.2 A highly effective vaccine has been available since 1969 and vaccination programmes have eliminated or greatly reduced the incidence of rubella and congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) in developed countries.3 Information on the epidemiology of rubella in South Africa is somewhat lacking. An article published in the December 1977 issue of the SAMJ by Kipps et al.4 entitled ‘The epidemiology of rubella in Cape Town ’ began as follows: ‘Information on the epidemiology of rubella in the Republic of South Africa is woefully incomplete. The disease is not notifiable and there ar