Mumps outbreak among the military in Luxembourg in 2008: epidemiology and evaluation of control measures

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J Mossong1, C Bonert, P Weicherding

  • 1Laboratoire National de Sante (National Health Laboratory), Unite de microbiologie (Microbiology Unit), Luxembourg. joel.mossong@Ins.etat.lu

Euro Surveillance : Bulletin Europeen Sur Les Maladies Transmissibles = European Communicable Disease Bulletin
|February 24, 2009
PubMed

Insights

A 2008 mumps outbreak in Luxembourg was controlled by a mass vaccination campaign. Post-vaccination, 90% of recipients showed IgG positivity, significantly increasing immunity and halting further cases.

Area of Science:

  • Epidemiology
  • Immunology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • An outbreak of mumps occurred in Luxembourg in late 2008.
  • The initial cases were concentrated in a military center among young adults.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the effectiveness of a mass vaccination campaign in controlling a mumps outbreak.
  • To evaluate the serological response to mumps vaccination in a cohort of military personnel.

Main Methods:

  • A mass vaccination campaign was implemented following the initial outbreak.
  • Serological testing (IgG) was performed on vaccine recipients before and one month after vaccination.
  • Surveillance data on clinical mumps cases in the military and community were collected.

Main Results:

  • No further clinical cases were observed after the vaccination campaign.
  • IgG positivity increased from 54% before vaccination to 90% one month after vaccination among 136 recipients.
  • A total of 19 mumps cases were reported from the community by December 31, 2008.
  • The circulating mumps virus strain was identified as belonging to genogroup G.

Conclusions:

  • Mass mumps vaccination was effective in controlling the outbreak in the military setting.
  • The vaccination campaign significantly boosted population immunity against mumps.
  • Genogroup G strains were responsible for the observed mumps outbreak.

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