Mumps virus is a notifiable disease and requires contact tracing by Public Health.
Mumps virus is a Paramyxovirus related amongst others to measles, parainfluenza, respiratory syncytial virus and metapneumovirus. It is enveloped with a non-segmented negative sense RNA genome. Mumps is characterized by painful inflamation of eg salivary glands and/or testes/ovaries but can involve other tissues and organs causing meningitis, encephalitis, myocarditis, pancreatitis and nephritis. The virus is highly neurotropic, with approxiately 50% of infected individuals showing evidence of CNS involvement. Prior to routine vaccination mumps was a leading cause of aseptic meningitis and viral encephalitis.
Recent global resurgence of cases, including in highly vaccinated populations has raise questions over vaccine efficiency and the possibility of emerging virus strains non-responsive to vaccine.
Mumps is generally self-limiting with complete recovery within a few weeks of symptom onset. Rarely, long-term sequelae such as paralysis, seizures, cranial nerve palsies, hydrocephalus and deafness can occur.
Mumps Serology
