Rubella
Alternate name: German measles
Fact sheet 2- Health conditions directory
For most people, rubella is a mild illness caused by the rubella virus. However, rubella can cause serious birth defects if infection occurs during pregnancy. However, as not all cases get symptoms or are notified, the actual number is likely to have been higher. Since the introduction of an effective vaccine, rubella mainly occurs in young unimmunised children, or in adolescents and young adults who have received less than two doses of the vaccine.
Public health management guidelines
Notification
Pathology laboratories
Notification resources
- List of all Pathological, clinical and provisional diagnosis notifiable conditions6
- List of Public Health Unit7 contacts
- Notifiable conditions report form for Queensland doctors/clinicians (PHA S70) or person in charge of a Hospital (PHA S71)8 (PDF, 77kB) - if faxing notification, follow up by phone.
Enhanced surveillance for public health units
- Case report form9 (PDF, 262KB) - used by public health units to collect and manage more detailed information for enhanced case surveillance.
Resources for health professionals
Immunisation
- Australian immunisation handbook10 - provides clinical guidelines for health professionals on the safest and most effective use of vaccines in their practice.
- Immunisation11 – Queensland Health website for health professionals.
To order Normal Human Immunoglobulin (NHIg) for Public Health Response Activities
- Complete the NHIg Order Form April 2023 (pdf) | National Blood Authority12 and email to BloodNetkelvingrove@redcrossblood.org.au13 or fax to 07 3838 9400.
- After you have submitted the form you will need to phone 07 3838 9010 (24 hours) to advise the request is urgent for a public health response.
Please note:
If the GP is already a National Blood Authority (NBA) approved Australian Health Provider (AHP), the completion of the required NHIG for public health purposes form should enable timely delivery of NHIg.
Public Health Units are required to advise Lifeblood of public health urgency so that NHIg can be provided to non-NBA approved GPs ASAP. Lifeblood will then liaise with the GP to seek retrospective NBA approval.