Studies on Rubella Virus

Publication in 1962 by two American research groups1 , 2 of their successful methods for the laboratory propagation and quantitation of rubella virus and its specific antibody enabled investigators in many lands to direct their efforts toward definitive characterization of the agent, the disease and its epidemiology. Many studies prior to 1962 had supplied abundant data relevant to the clinical syndrome and had indicated the relation between infection in early pregnancy and congenital anomalies. The lack of technics for virus isolation and serological assay of immunity had thwarted previous attempts at clarification of inconsistencies and discrepancies in these observations, statistics and conclusions. . . .