Increase in mumps in Ireland in late 2004

Abstract

Up to December 2004 (weeks 1-48 inclusive), 284 mumps cases were notified to the Irish National Disease Surveillance Centre. This is the greatest number of notifications since 1997 when 285 cases were reported

Epidemiologic and diagnostic evaluation of a recent mumps outbreak using oral fluid samples

“…However, outbreaks did occur in Ireland in 1989 (709 cases), 1996 (422 cases) and 1997 (286 cases). Routine mumps immunisation was introduced in Ireland in 1988 for children aged around 15 months, and a second dose strategy was introduced in 1992 for 10-14 year olds (Di Renzi et al, 2004). In 1999, the age for the second MMR dose was changed to 4-5 years of age as part of a national strategy in response to the mumps outbreaks (Di Renzi et al, 2004;Johnson et al, 1996).…”

Seroepidemiology of the recent mumps virus outbreaks in Ireland

“…3 In 2004, data from the European SeroEpidemiology Network (ESEN2) project suggested that 80-85% of 15-24 years olds in Ireland were immune to mumps, either through natural immunity or immunization. 4 The apparent success of the 2-dose MMR vaccine programme in preventing mumps infection encouraged public health officials to set a goal to eliminate endemic transmission of mumps virus by 2010 in the United States. 5 However, 2006 saw the largest mumps outbreak occurred in the US since the introduction of immunization against mumps.…”

Molecular Epidemiological Evaluation of the Recent Resurgence in Mumps Virus Infections in Ireland

“…Data from the European Sero-Epidemiology Network (ESEN2) project in 2004 suggested that 80 to 85% of 15-to 24-year-olds in Ireland were immune to mumps, through either natural immunity or immunization (11). MMR immunization uptake is currently 92%; however, this is still below the World Health Organization-recommended target of 95% (11).…”

“…This resulted in a potentially partially protected cohort of individuals who received only one dose of the MMR vaccine (12,27), and during recent outbreaks in the United States, mumps cases have occurred in individuals who had received two doses of MMR vaccine (10,24). Data from the European Sero-Epidemiology Network (ESEN2) project in 2004 suggested that 80 to 85% of 15-to 24-year-olds in Ireland were immune to mumps, through either natural immunity or immunization (11). MMR immunization uptake is currently 92%; however, this is still below the World Health Organization-recommended target of 95% (11).…”