How can rubella during pregnancy cause hearing loss in a newborn?

When a pregnant woman is infected with the rubella virus, the pathogen can enter the placenta from her bloodstream and infect the fetus. This transmission is particularly dangerous during the early stages of pregnancy, especially within the first eight weeks, when the risk of congenital malformation is highest.12

The virus causes damage by interfering with the development of various fetal organs, leading to a condition known as congenital rubella syndrome. While the syndrome is frequently associated with defects of the heart, brain, eyes, and large arteries, it is also a well-documented cause of hearing loss in newborns.1

It is a fundamental ethical principle to prioritize the health and safety of both mother and child through preventative care. Because rubella can cause such severe developmental consequences, it is essential that women of childbearing age ensure they have immunity, typically through the MMR vaccine, prior to becoming pregnant.1