MUMPS

AGENT OF DISEASE

Mumps is caused by the mumps virus, which is a member of the family Paramyxoviridae, genus Paramyxovirus.

WORLDWIDE DISTRIBUTION

Mumps occurs worldwide. People living in colder climates are especially susceptible between November and March. In countries with vaccination programs for mumps the number of cases has declined dramatically. The decline has occurred among all age groups, but primarily among infants and young children who receive the vaccine through immunization programs. Consequently, the greatest risk of infection has now shifted to the older, unvaccinated groups.

SYMPTOMS

It takes approximately 18 days for symptoms to develop after someone has been infected with the mumps virus. The symptoms include fever, headaches, and swelling and tenderness of the cheeks or jaw. Serious complications of the disease include meningitis, deafness and painful swelling of the testicles in adolescents and adult males, which very rarely results in sterility. Pregnant women who contract mumps may be at risk of spontaneous abortion, especially during the first trimester of pregnancy.

PERIOD OF COMMUNICABILITY

A non-immune person should be considered infectious from the 12th to the 25th day after exposure. An infected person is most contagious 1 to 2 days before the onset of symptoms and for 5 days after.

HOW IT IS TRANSMITTED

Mumps is transmitted by direct contact with or inhalation of the secretions from an infected person's nose or mouth.

PREVENTION/CONTROL

Immunization of all children is recommended at 12 months of age in the form of a combined vaccine against measles, mumps and rubella (MMR). A booster dose is given again in the combined MMR at either 18 months or at 4 to 6 years of age (NACI-Recommended Childhood Vaccination Schedule, Canada).