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Published on: August 7, 2017
Mumps resurgence in Denmark
Gry St-Martin1, Lisbet Krause Knudsen2, Frederik Neess Engsig3
1Section for Virus Surveillance and Research, Department for Microbiological Diagnostics and Virology, Statens Serum Institut SSI, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Background:
The past decade has witnessed a resurgence of parotitisvirus (mumps) in several countries where seemingly good mumps control otherwise had been achieved through vaccination. Recently detection of mumps has increased in Denmark.
Objectives:
To describe the age-specific changes and time trends of parotitisvirus detection in Denmark over a 10 year period.
Study Design:
Retrospective cohort study based on national laboratory data for parotitisvirus typing surveillance and national epidemiology data for mumps reporting.
Results:
The parotitisvirus detection rate has increased almost 10 times during the past 10 years from an incidence <0.1 per 100,000 in 2003 to 0.96 per 100,000 in 2013. The age distribution has shifted from children to young adults, and most cases are unvaccinated (54%) or vaccinated once (41%). The increase is due mainly to the existence of cohorts with low MMR vaccine coverage.
Conclusion:
Analysis of mumps surveillance data from Denmark documents that the incidence of mumps is increasing, and that the resurgence of parotitisvirus is primarily occurring among young Danish adults. Almost half of the infected clinical mumps cases had received the first dose of MMR.
Insights
Mumps (parotitisvirus) is increasing in Denmark, primarily affecting young adults. This resurgence is linked to lower measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine coverage in specific age groups.
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Mumps (parotitisvirus) outbreaks are re-emerging globally, even in highly vaccinated populations.
- Denmark has recently observed a significant increase in mumps detection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze age-specific trends in parotitisvirus detection over a decade in Denmark.
- To investigate temporal changes in mumps incidence and epidemiology.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective cohort study utilizing national laboratory surveillance data for parotitisvirus typing.
- Analysis of national epidemiology data for mumps case reporting.
Main Results:
- Parotitisvirus detection rates in Denmark increased nearly tenfold from 2003 to 2013.
- The demographic affected by mumps shifted from children to young adults.
- A majority of cases involved unvaccinated (54%) or single-dose vaccinated (41%) individuals, linked to cohorts with suboptimal MMR vaccine coverage.
Conclusions:
- Mumps incidence is rising in Denmark, with a notable resurgence among young adults.
- Suboptimal measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine coverage in certain cohorts contributes significantly to the ongoing mumps outbreaks.
- Nearly half of clinically diagnosed mumps cases had received at least one MMR vaccine dose.
