Mumps in Poland in 2023

Area of Science:

• Epidemiology
• Public Health
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Mumps is a viral illness transmitted person-to-person.
• Mandatory measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccination in Poland since 2003 has significantly reduced mumps incidence and complications.
• Despite high vaccination rates, mumps remains a public health concern.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the 2023 incidence of mumps in Poland.
• To compare mumps incidence in 2023 with previous years.
• To evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mumps epidemiology.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of data from Poland's national epidemiological surveillance system for mumps in 2023.
• Calculation of incidence rates per 100,000 inhabitants.
• Estimation of vaccination coverage using cohort data and vaccination effectiveness via the screening method.

Main Results:

• Poland registered 966 mumps cases in 2023, a 4.8% increase from 2022.
• The overall incidence rate was 2.6 per 100,000 population, 5.3% higher than in 2022.
• The highest incidence was observed in children aged 0-9 years and in the Śląskie voivodeship. Hospitalizations decreased by 40%.

Conclusions:

• An upward trend in mumps cases was observed in 2023.
• The COVID-19 pandemic temporarily reduced mumps transmission due to restrictions on droplet-spread diseases.
• Despite the recent increase, mumps incidence in 2023 remains lower than pre-pandemic levels.