Cause: genus Rubulavirus, which belongs to the Paramyxoviridae family.
Illness and treatment: Mumps is a viral infection that causes pain and inflammation of glandular tissue, most commonly the salivary glands (parotitis). Symptoms including fever, anorexia, malaise and headache typically precede parotitis. Up to 20% of infections in unvaccinated people may be asymptomatic, some cases have mild respiratory symptoms. Complications of mumps can include inflammation of testes (orchitis) or ovaries (oophoritis), aseptic meningitis (rarely causing deafness), pancreatitis, and myocarditis. Treatment is supportive and varies based on the symptoms presented.
Sources: Humans are the only known reservoir. People who are asymptomatic or have only mild, non-specific respiratory symptoms can spread the virus. Transmission is through direct contact with infected respiratory droplets or direct contact with saliva.
Additional risks: Humans are the only known reservoir. People who are asymptomatic or have only mild, non-specific respiratory symptoms can spread the virus. Transmission is through direct contact with infected respiratory droplets or direct contact with saliva.
Prevention: Vaccination is highly effective at preventing mumps. Respiratory and hand hygiene help to reduce transmission.
Purpose of Reporting and Surveillance
- To assess the burden of mumps in Washington.
- To identify cases and prevent further spread from cases by recommending appropriate preventive measures, including exclusion.
- To educate potentially exposed individuals about signs and symptoms of disease, thereby facilitating early diagnosis and reducing the risk of further transmission.
- To identify and vaccinate susceptible individuals.
Legal Reporting Requirements
- Health care providers and health care facilities: notifiable to local health jurisdiction within 24 hours.
- Laboratories: notifiable to local health jurisdiction within 24 hours; submission required – isolate or if no isolate available, specimen associated with positive result for nucleic acid detection*, within 2 business days; submission on request – specimen associated with positive IgM, within 2 business days.
*In practice, submission of these specimens generally occurs only upon request rather than routinely - Local health jurisdictions: notifiable to the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) Communicable Disease Epidemiology (CDE) within 7 days of case investigation completion or summary information required within 21 days.