The mumps vaccine was licensed in 1967. Since that time, the incidence of mumps has been very low in the United States. In most cases, mumps rarely causes a sustained illness. However, mumps infection in postpubertal men and women may affect additional organs. Testicular inflammation with associated sterility, encephalitis, pancreatitis, and various other organ involvement has been noted.
Rubella is a viral illness characterized by cold-like symptoms with an associated rash.
The rash begins on the face and neck and progresses to the trunk. Rubella is less contagious than measles. The disease is usually self-limiting, and rarely causes severe illness in healthy children. However, in the adult population, rubella continues to be a concern for nonimmunized women of child-bearing age. The most important consequences of rubella are the miscarriages, stillbirths, fetal abnormalities, and therapeutic abortions that result when rubella infection occurs during early pregnancy - especially during the first trimester.