Rubella is a highly contagious disease caused by the rubella (RuV) virus. When the virus enters the body, it causes symptoms such as red rashes, mild fever, headache, and cough. Transmission occurs from person to person, especially through close contact and via droplets spread during coughing and sneezing. Although the disease typically affects children, it can also be transmitted from pregnant individuals to their unborn babies via the bloodstream. An individual infected with the rubella virus is contagious, starting approximately one week before the appearance of the rash and continuing for about one week after the rash disappears. Infected individuals can spread the virus to others even before symptoms are noticed.