Question

Which of the following are routes for the transmission of the Rubella virus?

I. Droplets of cough or sneeze.
II. Soil contaminated with faeces of infected person.
III. Mother to child during pregnancy.
IV. Contaminated food.

• A. Only I
• B. I and III
• C. II and IV
• D. Only II

Answer 1

The correct option is B I and III

Rubella is a contagious disease caused by the Rubella virus. Usually Rubella is transmitted through droplets of coughing and sneezing of the infected person. It shows symptoms such as low fever, sore throat, and a skin rash that starts on the face and spreads to the rest of the body. The rash generally lasts for about three days.

Pathogens which are capable of crossing the placental barrier can be transmitted from an infected mother to the child during pregnancy or childbirth. The placenta is an organ developed during pregnancy that prevents the blood of the mother from coming in direct contact with the fetal blood. The Rubella virus is capable of crossing the placental barrier. Hence it can be passed by an infected mother to a child during pregnancy.


The disease can have serious implications if an unvaccinated pregnant woman gets infected. It may lead to miscarriage or the death of the baby just after birth. Transmission of the virus to the developing fetus can lead to the development of serious birth defects such as:

• Heart problems
• Loss of hearing and eyesight
• Intellectual disability
• Liver or spleen damage

Figure : Common symptoms of congenital Rubella

Diseases which can be transmitted through soil contaminated with faeces of an infected person (faecal- oral transmission) include taeniasis (Taenia solium), ascariasis (Ascaris lumbricoides) etc.

Diseases which can be transmitted through contaminated food include typhoid (Salmonella typhi), amoebiasis (Entamoeba histolytica), cholera (Vibrio cholerae) etc.