Rubella has been officially eradicated from the Americas, according to recent reports. The elimination of the high risk disease for unborn children has been seen as a historic achievement for the American continents.

Both North and South American continents were also able to eliminate smallpox in 1971 and polio in 1994. Now, what is known as the ‘German measles’ has also eliminated, according to medical reports.

The achievement was done with huge vaccination programs throughout both continents. The last time rubella struck in the Americas was in Brazil and Argentina back in 2009.

No cases have been reported in the last five years, and according to Carissa Etienne, who is head of the Pan-American Health Organization, that gives the Americas the right to declare that they are free of the virus. Etienne claims that the fight against the virus has taken 15 years.

The symptoms of the disease are not too bad on most people. However, women that are in their trimester of pregnancy and are infected risk a huge chance to bring danger for their unborn children.

Most people only experience a low-grade fever, sore or aching joints, a rash, or a headache. Pregnant woman can give birth to a child with congenital rubella syndrome, also known as CRS. CRS can result in autism, blindness, deafness, and cardiac defects on newborn children.

Despite having a victorious outcome in the Americas by eradicating the virus, there are other parts of the world that are still in danger of an epidemic. There are reported 120,000 new rubella cases seen annually in other parts of the world.