Rubella or Measles Virus is one of the most devastating Viruses which attacks the Nervous System. Some Viruses produce inflammation in the Brain with very little DeMyelination. The mechanism of injury is not always clear. The Rubella Virus causes Encephalitis but minimal evidence of DeMyelination. Research studies reports have clearly implicated the Measles Virus as the cause of the injury and destructive changes in the Brain.
Cells become fused together and are referred to as a giant cell.
Virus inclusion bodies occur in infected cells. When these are studied under the electron microscope, dense and fuzzy tubules are seen in cells proved to be infected by Measles Virus. The changes are intimately related to Viral inclusion bodies seen with the light microscope occurring in the inflammed tissues particularly about the blood vessels in the Brain and Spinal Cord. The autopsy of a patient, who had developed Encephalitis three days after the onset of Measles, showed changes which were consistent with Measles Encephalitis. An area of infammation was also shown as well as Viral inclusion bodies in the cytoplasm and nucleus of the cells.