Summary
Since July 2014, health authorities in Ireland have been countering an outbreak of nearly 2,000 reported cases of mumps. The majority of cases have been in the northwest and south, whereas the population density is far heavier along the eastern seaboard, where the nation’s capital, Dublin, is. Cases have largely been among academic institutions and between family members. Males account for 56 percent of these cases.
What is Mumps?
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), mumps (also called infectious parotitis) is a contagious virus spread from respiratory droplets (coughing, sneezing, spitting), from human-to-human contact, or from touching contaminated surfaces.
Symptoms, which can appear 12-25 days (although 16-18 is more typical) after infection, include: fever, head/muscle ache, tiredness, loss of appetite, and swollen/tender salivary gland(s) under the ears or jaw. Some people exhibit mild or no symptoms. There is no cure for mumps. Treatment generally consists of pain management and infection control. Most people recover fully within a few weeks; however, without treatment, mumps can lead to serious complications such as meningitis, encephalitis, temporary deafness, and glandular swelling.
There is a widely used combined vaccine for Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) and another that includes Varicella (MMRV), given in two doses at least 28 days apart. Very few patients experience side effects or adverse reactions to the vaccine. CDC advises that travelers over the age of six months who do not have mumps immunity should be vaccinated with the MMR vaccine.
Where is it?
There are outbreaks of mumps around the world, to include Western and highly industrialized countries, in part because MMR vaccination programs are not yet worldwide and in part because they do not reach 100 percent coverage where they are in place.
Impact to Private Sector Operations
Because MMR vaccinations are not universal, contracting mumps should be a consideration when traveling, particularly for travelers who do not have or are uncertain about their immunity. Large gatherings or other close-contact settings, to include school dormitories and professional conferences, tend to promote the possibility of the virus’s spread.
Guidance
The Irish Health Protection Surveillance Center (HPSC) has suggested that all teens and young adults receive the two-dose MMR vaccine to prevent further outbreaks.
The CDC has offered hygienic guidance to avoid the mumps virus:
• Wash your hands often with soap and water or use hand sanitizer (containing at least 60% alcohol).
• Do not touch eyes, nose, or mouth, and cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
For Further Information
For additional information on global heath and pandemics, please contact OSAC’s Health and Disease Analyst. For information on the geopolitical security climate in impacted regions, please contact OSAC’s Research & Analysis Unit.
