Published Date: 2003-05-24 23:50:00
Subject: PRO/EDR> Mumps, increase - UK
Archive Number: 20030524.1284
MUMPS, INCREASE - UK
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Date: Fri 23 May 2003
From: Peter English <Peter.English@esha.nhs.uk>
Source: CCD-UK e-mail list, Fri 23 May 2003 [edited]
Reports of Increases in Mumps Cases in the UK
------------------------------------
South Wales:
----------
In the Cardiff and South Wales Valleys areas we have seen a huge increase
in mumps notifications generally among teenagers and often those who have
either had only one mumps-containing vaccine or none. The age group
affected may have been in the MR catch-up in 1994. We have had
approximately 320 notifications in the last 3 months. Our neighboring areas
are also seeing an increase in cases, though not as many we are, I believe.
(From Jackie Murray, Nurse Consultant in Communicable Disease Control,
Cardiff, South Wales)
Leicestershire:
----------
We have an outbreak of mumps also -- 12 cases in one PCT area, mostly in
11-14 year-olds who have had only one MMR.
Action taken to control: information to schools and GPs, MMR to be offered
to all 11-14 year olds in that area through primary care
(From Dr Gerry Bryant, East Midlands (South) Health Protection Team,
Leicester, Leicestershire)
Somerset:
------
In Somerset we are in the process of investigating 5 cases of mumps, (16-19
yrs of age), 4 of which are associated with a local public school. The
fifth is a community case associated with the same small town. Uptake of
MMR in this area was 73.4 percent for the last quarter. The town will
shortly be inundated with travellers attending the Glastonbury Festival!
Mumps is a notifiable disease, so official data should be available in due
course, but it seems possible that the UK is experiencing a considerable
increase in mumps cases.
(From Karen Anderson, Senior Nurse, Somerset Health Protection Unit)
--
Peter M B English
Consultant in Communicable Disease Control
Immunisation Coordinator for Surrey
Surrey Health Protection Unit
<http://www.bigfoot.com/~scdcs>
[Since replacement in September 1992 of the Urabe strain of mumps virus by
the Jeryl Lynn strain, the triple MMR vaccine has performed satisfactorily
with no serious complications, notwithstanding the subsequent finding that
the Jeryl Lynn strain of mumps virus is a mixture of 2 distinct isolates
(Afzal et al., J Gen Virol 75, 2139, 1994). The resurgence of mumps cases
and the apparent lack of protection are likely to be related to the decline
in uptake of the MMR triple vaccine in the UK as a result of adverse
publicity surrounding the unsubstantiated claim of a link between the
triple vaccine and autism. A similar upsurge in mumps cases in both
Northern Ireland and the North of England was reported in ProMED-mail in
2001. It is unfortunate that public suspicion of the triple MMR vaccine
remains unallayed, despite the best efforts of the UK government and the
medical profession. - Mod.CP]
See Also
2001----
Mumps, consequence of reduced MMRV uptake - UK 20010806.1858
Mumps, consequence of reduced MMRV uptake - UK (02) 20010831.2069
.......................................mpp/cp/pg/jw
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