Who cares about mumps? You should!

[Mumps transmission control status and inapparent infection rate among middle and high school students during the 2007-2008 mumps outbreak in Daegu]

OBJECTIVES

This study was performed to investigate the mumps transmission control status and inapparent infection rate among middle and high school students in Daegu City during a mumps outbreak.

METHODS

Nine schools (two middle schools and seven high schools), which reported a number of mumps cases between 2007 and 2008 were selected for investigation. During March-May 2008, a standard questionnaire was distributed to gather information about case identification, instructed isolation measure, isolation status of mumps cases and related factors, and outdoor activities of non-isolated mumps case. Inapparent infection rate was estimated by serum mumps IgM and IgG antibodies status and self-reported mumps symptoms in three of the nine schools.

RESULTS

Among 2,560 respondents, more than half of students answered that they did not receive instructions in mumps transmission control measures during the outbreak. Among the 327 mumps cases identified by the questionnaire, 131 cases (40.1%) were considered as isolated and the isolation rates were significantly different among schools, grades, and gender. Of the non-isolated cases, 88.3% continued attending school. Inapparent mumps infection rates were between 56.3% and 70.2%.

CONCLUSIONS

Mumps transmission control was inadequate to control the mumps outbreak. Although high inapparent infection rate would mitigate the transmission control effect of case isolation, this measure is fundamental for infection control. The reasons of this inadequate status need to be explored to develop an effective intervention strategy.

Matched case-control study of effectiveness of live, attenuated S79 mumps virus vaccine against clinical mumps

Mumps virus infection is a potentially serious viral infection of childhood and early adulthood. In China, live, attenuated S(79) mumps virus vaccine has been licensed for pediatric use since 1990. There has been no assessment of its efficacy. Thus, the objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness of live, attenuated S(79) mumps virus vaccine against clinical mumps. Cases were selected from the China Information System for Disease Control and Prevention during September 2004 to March 2005. Each case was matched to a control by gender, age, and area of residency. In all, 469 cases and 469 controls were enrolled in the study. Vaccination information was obtained from the Children's EPI Administrative Computerized System. Vaccine effectiveness (VE) was calculated for one or two doses of S(79) vaccine, with 95% confidence intervals (CI). VE of mumps virus vaccine for one dose versus none was protection of 86.0% (95% CI, 77.2% to 91.5%) of recipients, and VE was much higher in the first 4 years than in the 5 to 12 years after vaccination. The S(79) vaccine can effectively prevent clinical mumps, and a second dose of mumps virus vaccine is necessary for the protection of children in China.