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| MUMPS |
Disease
Mumps, or parotitis epidemica, is a viral infection that primarily affects the salivary glands. Although mumps is mostly a mild childhood disease, the virus may also affect adults, in whom complications such as meningitis and orchitis are relatively common. Encephalitis and permanent neurological sequelae are rare complications of mumps.
Occurrence
In most parts of the world, annual mumps incidence is in the range of 100–1000 per 100 000 population, with epidemic peaks every 2–5 years. Peak incidence is found among children aged 5–9 years. Natural infection with mumps virus is thought to confer lifelong protection.
Risk for travellers
Travelers who are not fully immunized against mumps are at risk when visiting endemic countries.
Vaccine
The mumps vaccine is usually given in combination with measles and rubella vaccine (MMR). Different attenuated strains of the mumps virus are used for the production of live mumps vaccines, all of which are considered safe and efficacious, except for the Rubini strain. In order to avoid possible interference with persistent maternal antibodies, the recommended one dose of the vaccine is usually given after the age of 9 months.
A single dose of mumps vaccine, either as single antigen monovalent vaccine or in combination, (usually MMR) has a protective efficacy of 90–96%, and the second dose given in some countries at age 4–6 years provides protection to most individuals who do not respond to the first. |
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