Mumps surveillance in England and Wales 1962-81

Area of Science:

• Epidemiology
• Public Health
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Mumps (Mumps virus) traditionally presented as an epidemic disease primarily affecting young adults and older children.
• Previous understanding of mumps epidemiology indicated a distinct pattern of seasonal outbreaks and age-specific incidence.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze current epidemiological trends of mumps in England and Wales.
• To evaluate the changing disease patterns and their implications for public health strategies, including routine immunisation.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of routine surveillance data on mumps cases in England and Wales.
• Examination of age distribution, incidence, and complication rates over time.
• Assessment of vaccination acceptance rates for measles and combined measles-mumps vaccines.

Main Results:

• Mumps epidemiology is transitioning towards an endemic pattern, with infections occurring more frequently in younger children.
• Infections are occurring at an earlier age, associated with reduced complication frequency and potentially higher rates of asymptomatic cases.
• The incidence of clinically diagnosed mumps may be declining, and reported deaths in older individuals might be due to misclassification.

Conclusions:

• The changing epidemiology of mumps reduces the necessity for widespread routine immunisation programs.
• Combined measles-mumps vaccination at 15 months is contraindicated due to low acceptance rates (50%), potentially increasing mumps cases in older children and adults where complications are more severe.