1. Mumps

2. Mumps Infectious viral illness
What is mumps? How do you catch mumps? What is the incubation period? Can animals catch mumps? How can mumps be prevented?
Infectious viral illness
Airborne/Droplet
17 days No
Vaccination (MMR vaccine)

3. Symptoms Appear after the incubation period
Swelling of the parotid salivary glands (either side of your face) is the most common symptom

4. Symptoms
Other symptoms: fever, lack of appetite, dry mouth, joint pains, tiredness, abdominal pain
30% of people infected with mumps do not show any symptoms
Symptoms last up to 14 days

5. Complications
There are several complications of mumps, some which can be serious
Swollen testicles/ovaries if infected after puberty
Viral meningitis
Pancreatitis
Rare: encephalitis (1 in 1000 of those who develop viral meningitis) and permanent hearing loss (1 in 20,000)

6. Treatment
There is no medication to treat mumps so self-care techniques are used e.g. bed rest, painkillers, plenty of water, a compress for swollen glands and soft food
Good hygiene and staying away from others is important to prevent the spread of mumps

7. Prevention The MMR Vaccine is used to immunise people against mumps
It also provides immunity from measles and rubella
The MMR vaccine was introduced to the UK in 1988
The MMR vaccine is included in the England and Wales ‘Immunisation Schedule’ and is given first around 12 months and a ‘booster’ is given between 3 and 5 years before starting school

8. Prevention The MMR Vaccine is 95% effective after the first dose
The second dose gives immunity to almost all of those who were not immunised by the first dose
The MMR vaccine is safe and effective
To produce herd immunity, 90% of a population must be immunised against mumps.

9. Case Study In 2008/09 there were outbreaks of mumps in universities
This was due to students missing out on MMR jabs as children, before the two-dose MMR campaign
Mumps was controlled by the two-dose MMR campaign, but this group remained susceptible
At university, mumps was able to quickly spread through the susceptible students

10. Summary Mumps is a contagious viral infection
Mumps is spread by air/droplet transmission
Mumps is characterised by the swelling of the parotid salivary glands
Mumps can be prevented by the MMR vaccine, in addition to measles and rubella, all of which can also have serious complications
High vaccination coverage provides a ‘herd immunity’ effect which also protects those who are unable to be vaccinated