Four fetal deaths, five miscarriages (one with negative virology) and seven newborns with anti-rubella IgM at birth and/or at 3 months age were observed in the group with rubella before 12 weeks of gestation. There were three cases in which virological analysis of the amniotic fluid samples was positive (infected) while the newborn showed no signs of congenital rubella syndrome and anti-rubella IgM were absent. When maternal rubella occurred after 12 weeks of gestation, no fetal or neonatal rubella signs were observed.