Mumps epidemiology in the Mid-West of Ireland 2004-2008: increasing disease burden in the university/college setting

Abstract

Mumps is a contagious vaccine-preventable viral disease that is experiencing a revival in students attending second and third level colleges. Large mumps outbreaks have been reported in several countries despite the presence of childhood immunisation programmes over many years, including measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccination. In 2008, 1,377 cases of mumps were notified in Ireland and 1,734 in the first three months of 2009 (provisional data). This paper reviews the recent epidemiology of mumps in the Mid-West region of Ireland and highlights preventive measures. A substantial proportion of cases were not laboratory-confirmed and it is important that doctors continue to notify suspected cases. In the Irish Mid-West, data from enhanced surveillance shows a high proportion of mumps in the age group 15-24 years. Complications were uncommon and rarely severe. Where data were available, over half of the cases did not recall having received two doses of MMR, but most recalled one dose. Parents should continue to ensure children receive both MMR vaccinations so that uptake is optimal for protection. Steps were taken to increase awareness of the disease in the school, college and university settings. Preventive measures implemented to limit mumps transmission in the school/college setting over recent years included vaccination of close contacts, isolation for five days and hand hygiene.

Seroprevalence of Measles-, Mumps-, and Rubella-specific antibodies in the German adult population – cross-sectional analysis of the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Adults (DEGS1)

“…Mumps outbreaks have been observed in Germany and other European countries as well as in the USA and Canada, all countries demonstrating high vaccination coverage. Mainly affected were young adults in college and university settings with a history of remote vaccination [39] , [40] , [41] . Similar to what has been noted before, we found lower GMTs in response to vaccination [42] .…”

Ongoing mumps outbreak in a student population with high vaccination coverage, Netherlands, 2010

“…The clustering of cases among students (in Leiden and to a lesser extent in Delft and Utrecht) suggests that intensive social contact during the four-day party may have facilitated transmission. Shared living facilities among members of the students' association, and the close contact environment of routine college life are also likely contributing risk factors [13,14].…”

Asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection: A systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Settings with close, extensive contact among large groups of younger individuals are particularly susceptible to superspreader events of COVID-19 which may go undetected if surveillance focuses on symptomatic cases. This close congregation of relatively large groups similarly explains why influenza, mumps, and measles often spread more rapidly in schools and college campuses than in the broader community (420)(421)(422). As schools and universities convene in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, campus outbreaks are increasingly reported (423).…”