Rubella no more

Rubella, a virus that once caused tens of thousands of birth defects and deaths in a single outbreak, has been eliminated from the United States, health officials say. But Americans must still vaccinate their children, and pregnant women must still ensure they are immune because the disease exists elsewhere, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. The agency said that in 2004, nine rubella case were reported in the United States, all originating in other countries. Rubella, also known as German measles, is a usually mild viral infection that causes fever and rash, but early in pregnancy it can cause birth defects.