There have been no cases among children. All 16 cases have been in adults of Hispanic origin. The cases range in age from 16 to 46 years. Foreign-born adults are most vulnerable to rubella because of the differing immunization practices throughout the world. Rubella immunization is required for all children in the United States.
Rubella is a generally mild viral illness.
By far, the most important conse- quences of rubella are the miscarriages, stillbirths and birth defects which may result when a woman is infected with rubella during pregnancy, particularly during the first trimester. One of the 16 Houston cases was in a pregnant woman. Dengue fever, the most widespread mosquito-borne viral infection, is a significant health threat in Central and South America, the Caribbean and Pacific Islands, Asia and Africa. Female mosquitoes that spread the dengue fever virus feed on human blood during the day, primarily in early morning and late afternoon. Dengue survivors can develop a potentially fatal form of the disease if infected again.