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Mumps outbreak in vaccinated children in Gipuzkoa (Basque Country), Spain

M Montes1, G Cilla, J Artieda

  • 1Servicio de Microbiologia, Hospital Donostia, Paseo Dr. Beguiristain s/n, 20014 San Sebastián, Spain.

Insights

A mumps outbreak occurred in vaccinated children despite a measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) revaccination campaign. Genotyping revealed wild-type mumps virus strains, distinct from those used in the MMR vaccines.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Epidemiology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Mumps outbreaks can occur in vaccinated populations.
  • The measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is crucial for mumps prevention.
  • Understanding vaccine strain effectiveness against circulating wild-type mumps virus is important.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate a mumps outbreak in vaccinated children.
  • To identify the genotype of the circulating mumps virus strains.
  • To compare outbreak strains with vaccine strains.

Main Methods:

  • Case confirmation through viral culture, RNA detection, and IgM testing.
  • Analysis of mumps virus strains from clinical cases.
  • Sequencing of the small hydrophobic (SH) gene for genotyping.
  • Comparison of identified genotypes with vaccine strains.

Main Results:

  • A mumps outbreak occurred in 3-4 year olds, with an attack rate of 47.9%.
  • Eighty-eight percent of affected children received the Rubini MMR vaccine strain.
  • The outbreak was caused by an H genotype wild-type mumps virus, different from the D genotype causing sporadic cases.
  • Sequencing identified heterologous genotypes compared to vaccine strains.

Conclusions:

  • The study identified a mumps outbreak caused by a wild-type H genotype strain in a vaccinated population.
  • The findings suggest that the vaccine strains (Rubini and Jeryl-Lynn) may not have provided complete protection against this circulating genotype.
  • Further research into vaccine effectiveness against diverse mumps virus genotypes is warranted.

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