Rubella: historic confirmed cases and notifications
Published 2 October 2025
Applies to England
© Crown copyright 2025
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/rubella-confirmed-cases-and-notifications/rubella-historic-confirmed-cases-and-notifications
The structure and content of the rubella epidemiology webpages has changed; older webpages are available to view on the UK Government Web Archive.
Confirmed cases of rubella by age group: 2012 to 2024
| Age group | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 [note] | 2024 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| < 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 |
| 1-4 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| 5-9 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| 10-14 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
| 15-19 | 17 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 |
| 20-24 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 25-29 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 11 |
| 30-34 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| 35+ | 7 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
| Total | 65 | 13 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
Note: The 2 cases in 2023 involved a mother and vertical transmission to the foetus during pregnancy.
Confirmed cases of rubella by region: 2012 to 2024
| Age group | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 [note] | 2024 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North East | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| North West | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| East Midlands | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| West Midlands | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| East of England | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| London | 5 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 |
| South East | 50 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 57 |
| South West | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Unknown | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 65 | 13 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
Note: The 2 cases in 2023 involved a mother and vertical transmission to the foetus during pregnancy.
To view data from 1996 to 2011, visit the UK Government Web Archive.
Notifications of rubella by age group: 2012 to 2024
| Age group | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| <1 | 129 | 161 | 119 | 109 | 105 | 81 | 69 | 56 | 50 | 0 | 30 | 27 | 39 | 25 | 1,000 |
| 1-4 | 176 | 266 | 219 | 141 | 132 | 133 | 140 | 99 | 90 | 6 | 41 | 77 | 64 | 70 | 1,654 |
| 5-9 | 67 | 121 | 89 | 72 | 62 | 40 | 58 | 46 | 25 | 2 | 8 | 38 | 28 | 77 | 733 |
| 10-14 | 24 | 50 | 20 | 22 | 18 | 18 | 23 | 21 | 13 | 2 | 8 | 12 | 15 | 33 | 279 |
| 15+ | 46 | 98 | 71 | 46 | 55 | 39 | 47 | 41 | 33 | 12 | 89 | 94 | 96 | 70 | 837 |
| Unknown | 1 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 |
| Total | 443 | 702 | 519 | 392 | 372 | 311 | 338 | 263 | 211 | 22 | 176 | 248 | 242 | 275 |
Note: Figures for 2020 to 2024 are provisional estimates due to an ongoing data collection issue for the notifications of infectious diseases.
Source: Notifications of Infectious Diseases.
To view data from 1989 to 2011, visit the archived UK Government Web Archive.
Notifications of rubella by region: 2012 to 2024
| Region | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North East | 26 | 28 | 17 | 20 | 20 | 15 | 17 | 10 | 14 | 0 | 4 | 9 | 7 | 18 | 205 |
| North West | 42 | 75 | 57 | 47 | 44 | 27 | 46 | 47 | 28 | 2 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 30 | 511 |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | 57 | 86 | 86 | 51 | 62 | 45 | 38 | 25 | 28 | 1 | 14 | 29 | 40 | 36 | 598 |
| East Midland | 53 | 48 | 50 | 30 | 34 | 31 | 32 | 12 | 24 | 1 | 9 | 21 | 29 | 30 | 404 |
| West Midlands | 21 | 40 | 29 | 22 | 25 | 35 | 30 | 21 | 20 | 2 | 14 | 13 | 28 | 21 | 321 |
| East of England | 65 | 95 | 62 | 50 | 44 | 26 | 30 | 25 | 10 | 2 | 45 | 22 | 21 | 34 | 531 |
| London | 56 | 93 | 63 | 53 | 43 | 41 | 61 | 46 | 43 | 4 | 33 | 63 | 41 | 50 | 690 |
| South East | 107 | 192 | 110 | 94 | 66 | 58 | 59 | 34 | 32 | 8 | 26 | 34 | 26 | 41 | 887 |
| South West | 16 | 45 | 45 | 25 | 34 | 33 | 25 | 43 | 12 | 2 | 10 | 32 | 25 | 13 | 360 |
| Unknown | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 7 |
| Total | 443 | 702 | 519 | 392 | 372 | 311 | 338 | 263 | 211 | 22 | 176 | 248 | 242 | 275 |
Note: Figures for 2020 to 2024 are provisional estimates due to an ongoing data collection issue for the notifications of infectious diseases.
Source: Notifications of Infectious Diseases.
Cases from port health authorities are excluded.
To view data from 1989 to 2011, visit the UK Government Web Archive.
Rubella notifications and confirmed cases by oral fluid testing: 2013 to 2024 by quarter
As part of the enhanced surveillance of rubella implemented to meet the UK commitment to rubella elimination, from 1994 all notified cases are sent an oral fluid test to confirm or discard the diagnosis. The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that the UK achieved elimination status for rubella in 2016 and this has been maintained.
The table below shows quarterly rubella notifications, the proportion with an oral fluid test, and if any have been confirmed positive through IgM antibody or PCR tests. Any local testing for rubella, such as those performed in NHS laboratories, to discard cases are not included here because negative test results are not routinely reported to the UKHSA.
| Year | Quarter | Notifications | Number tested | Tested (%) | Number positive | Tested Positive (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 [note] | 4 | 36 | 20 | 55.6 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2024 [note] | 3 | 52 | 29 | 55.8 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2024 [note] | 2 | 162 | 13 | 8.0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2024 [note] | 1 | 88 | 35 | 39.8 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2023 [note] | 4 | 71 | 20 | 28.2 | 2 | 10.0 |
| 2023 [note] | 3 | 63 | 7 | 11.1 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2023 [note] | 2 | 63 | 23 | 36.5 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2023 [note] | 1 | 66 | 754 | 1142.4 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2022 [note] | 4 | 116 | 32 | 27.6 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2022 [note] | 3 | 75 | 20 | 26.7 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2022 [note] | 2 | 92 | 22 | 23.9 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2022 | 1 | 28 | 24 | 85.7 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2021 | 4 | 21 | 23 | 109.5 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2021 | 3 | 15 | 22 | 146.7 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2021 | 2 | 19 | 30 | 157.9 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2021 | 1 | 12 | 15 | 125.0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2020 | 4 | 8 | 10 | 125.0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2020 | 3 | 16 | 17 | 106.3 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2020 | 2 | 14 | 11 | 78.6 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2020 | 1 | 84 | 77 | 91.7 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2019 | 4 | 59 | 87 | 147.5 | 1 | 1.1 |
| 2019 | 3 | 35 | 64 | 182.9 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2019 | 2 | 54 | 89 | 164.8 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2019 | 1 | 75 | 74 | 98.7 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2018 | 4 | 60 | 92 | 153.3 | 1 | 1.1 |
| 2018 | 3 | 45 | 55 | 122.2 | 1 | 1.8 |
| 2018 | 2 | 84 | 73 | 86.9 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2018 | 1 | 95 | 82 | 86.3 | 1 | 1.2 |
| 2017 | 4 | 82 | 73 | 89.0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2017 | 3 | 68 | 53 | 77.9 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2017 | 2 | 98 | 99 | 101.0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2017 | 1 | 114 | 62 | 54.4 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2016 | 4 | 85 | 52 | 61.2 | 1 | 1.9 |
| 2016 | 3 | 65 | 54 | 83.1 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2016 | 2 | 87 | 68 | 78.2 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2016 | 1 | 106 | 69 | 65.1 | 1 | 1.4 |
| 2015 | 4 | 95 | 81 | 85.3 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2015 | 3 | 91 | 73 | 80.2 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2015 | 2 | 107 | 100 | 93.5 | 1 | 1.0 |
| 2015 | 1 | 105 | 82 | 78.1 | 1 | 1.2 |
| 2014 | 4 | 104 | 80 | 76.9 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2014 | 3 | 99 | 72 | 72.7 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2014 | 2 | 137 | 86 | 62.8 | 1 | 1.2 |
| 2014 | 1 | 124 | 118 | 95.2 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2013 | 4 | 88 | 32 | 36.4 | 1 | 3.1 |
| 2013 | 3 | 110 | 56 | 50.9 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2013 | 2 | 188 | 88 | 46.8 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2013 | 1 | 181 | 93 | 51.4 | 2 | 2.2 |
Source: Notifications of Infectious Diseases.
Note: provisional estimates due to an ongoing data collection issue for the notifications of infectious diseases
To view data from 1995 to 2012, visit the UK Government Web Archive.