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Text Box: Co-edited by: Sarah Hare, Pharm.D. Miranda Wilhelm, Pharm.D.

The Mumps Outbreak: What You Need to Know

Contributed by: Audrey Smith, Pharm.D.

Community Pharmacy Resident

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Text Box: The Multi-State Mumps Outbreak in the U.S. Recently more than 1000 cases of mumps have been reported in several U.S. midwestern states, including Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, and Wisconsin, with the largest of the outbreak thus far being reported in Iowa. A recent health advisory message released in April from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicated that the source of the mumps outbreak in the U.S. is still unknown. However, the type of mumps virus identified here in the U.S. (genotype G) is the same identified among cases in the larger outbreak in the United Kingdom where >70,000 cases have been reported since 2004. Reported mumps cases in the U.S. began appearing back in December 2005, with the majority of the cases occurring among individuals 18-25 years of age. Further investigation into the U.S.’s recent outbreak has also revealed that many of the individuals presenting with the mumps virus have been vaccinated. So, what can be done to increase awareness of the mumps virus and further reduce mumps virus transmission in the community? Mumps Symptom Identification & Virus Transmission An increased understanding of how mumps is identified and transmitted from person to person may help address this concern. Mumps is an acute, viral infection characterized by a set of non-specific symptoms, including muscle pain, decreased appetite, general discomfort, headache, and fever. These symptoms are usually followed by an acute onset of tender swelling of the parotid or other salivary glands (located near or beside the ear), presenting either on one or both sides of the face. Although the majority of infections in unvaccinated populations are associated with this typi

Text Box: cal facial swelling (otherwise known as acute parotitis), about 20% of infections can be asymptomatic (no symptoms) or present with non-specific, non-typical symptoms, such as respiratory symptoms. Transmission of mumps virus occurs by direct contact with respiratory droplets, saliva, or simply, contact with contaminated objects. The incubation period is generally 16-18 days (range 12-25 days) from exposure to onset of symptoms. Other complications of mumps can include deafness; inflammation of the testicles, ovaries, or breasts; pancreatitis; meningitis or encephalitis; and spontaneous abortion. With the exception of deafness, these complications are more common among adults than children. Prevention and Control of the Mumps Outbreak Some of the primary areas of focus for local health departments and the CDC are preventing and controlling the mumps outbreak, along with identifying the source of the recent outbreak. Know what makes you more susceptible to acquiring and transmitting mumps. For example, are your and your family’s vaccinations up-to-date? All preschool-aged children 12 months of age and older should receive one dose of measles-mumps-rubella vaccine (MMR), all school-aged children should receive two doses of MMR, and all adults should have evidence of immunity against mumps (exposure to the virus or at least two vaccinations). Make yourself aware of strategies in your work place and community being implemented to reduce your risk for exposure to the mumps virus, including defining at-risk populations and transmission settings, implementing respiratory precautions, and/or increasing surveillance for mumps.

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