Earlier this year, January 2024, Mumps broke out in Kerala with 190 cases recorded in a single day. According to reports, over 11000 cases were recorded altogether in January alone! Most of the infection cases were found in the Malappuram district and other parts of Northern Kerala.
Health Ministry officials since have officially made the outbreak confirmation and notified the National Centre for Disease Control in the state of Kerala.
Mumps- What Are They?
Mumps is a viral infection caused by the mumps virus, primarily affecting the salivary glands, particularly the parotid glands, located on the sides of the face below and in front of the ears. The virus is highly contagious and spreads through respiratory droplets or saliva from an infected person, most through the droplets from coughing, sneezing, or sharing used utensils.
The titular symptom of this infection is swelling and tenderness/sensitivity of one or more salivary glands, leading to a puffy appearance around the cheeks or jawline. Other common symptoms include fever, headache, muscle aches, fatigue, loss of appetite, and difficulty swallowing. In certain cases, mumps can also make patients develop complications such as meningitis, encephalitis, orchitis, oophoritis, pancreatitis, or even deafness.
Causes of Mumps
How do they spread?
Mumps is primarily spread through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The virus can also spread through direct contact with infected respiratory secretions, such as sharing utensils or cups, or touching surfaces contaminated with the virus and then touching the face, mouth, or nose.
Once the virus enters the body through the respiratory tract or mucous membranes, it infects and replicates in the upper respiratory tract and then spreads to the bloodstream. From there, the virus can reach various organs and tissues, including the salivary glands, where it causes inflammation and swelling.
People infected with mumps are most contagious from a few days before the onset of symptoms until about five days after the appearance of swollen glands. However, the virus can be shed in saliva for up to several weeks after infection, even in asymptomatic individuals.
Inadequate vaccination coverage can also contribute to the spread of mumps. Individuals who are not vaccinated or have not received the full two-dose series of the MMR vaccine are more susceptible to infection and can serve as reservoirs for the virus, allowing it to circulate within communities and lead to outbreaks. Therefore, maintaining high vaccination coverage is crucial for preventing the spread of mumps and protecting public health.
Prevention of Mumps
Prevention of mumps relies primarily on vaccination. The MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine is highly effective at preventing this infection and is typically administered in two doses during childhood, with the first dose given at 12-15 months of age and the second dose at 4-6 years of age. Vaccination not only protects individuals from it but also helps prevent outbreaks within communities.
Because this disease is highly contagious, it can easily spread in settings where people are in close contact with one another, such as schools, colleges, dormitories, and households. Crowded environments facilitate the transmission of the virus, increasing the risk of outbreaks.
With the new outbreak of mumps in a crucial state and it spreading at a rapid speed, it is now more important than ever to practice prevention of this disease by maintaining high vaccination coverage in communities and protecting the vulnerable and less privileged population from the disease.
