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Mumps epidemic among young British citizens on the island of Crete

A Spanaki1, J Hajiioannou, G Varkarakis

  • 1Saint George General Private Clinic, Hatzidaki 7, 71202, Heraklion, Crete, Greece. arianaspanaki@yahoo.gr

Infection
|April 3, 2007
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Mumps cases surged in Crete during summer tourist seasons, primarily affecting young British tourists. This suggests a potential link to the ongoing mumps epidemic in the UK and highlights the need to investigate vaccination strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Epidemiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Mumps is a rare infectious disease in Greece, with approximately 50 annual cases nationally and four in Crete.
  • An increase in mumps hospitalizations was observed in Crete during the 2004 and 2005 summer tourist seasons.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the reasons behind a mumps outbreak in Crete.
  • To explore the role of the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccination in the observed mumps epidemic.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of hospitalized mumps patients in a clinic in Crete.
  • Clinical, laboratory, and serological confirmation of mumps diagnosis.

Main Results:

  • 39 patients were hospitalized with mumps in Crete during the summers of 2004 and 2005.
  • The majority of patients (38 out of 39) were young British tourists.
  • Common symptoms included parotid gland swelling and fever, with some patients experiencing complications.

Conclusions:

  • The findings align with a mumps epidemic occurring in the UK.
  • The disease appears to be spreading within the Greek population, with six reported cases.
  • Further investigation into the MMR vaccination's role is warranted to understand the epidemic's drivers.

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