Why India is reporting a mumps infection spike

Over the past month, several states have reported high incidence of the mumps infection. Kerala, in particular, has had close to 2,500 cases, with 190 recorded in a single day in March, according to Union health ministry officials.

The other states reporting outbreaks are Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and, most recently, Rajasthan, where Jaipur and Udaipur emerged as hotspots. “I have seen five or six cases of mumps in the past two weeks, all of them children. The symptoms have been mild mostly,” says Dr Jahnvi Gupta, a general physician in Udaipur.

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Mumps, caused by the paramyxovirus, is mostly self-limiting in children, but being extremely contagious, its unrestricted spread is worrying for those with respiratory troubles or a compromised immune system. “Mumps mostly impacts the parotid salivary glands located on either side of the face in front of the ears. They help produce saliva. When the virus enters a human host, one of its most common symptoms is swelling and pain in these glands,” explains Dr Suranjit Chatterjee, senior consultant (internal medicine) at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi.

A major difficulty with curbing the spread of mumps is its long gestation period (the time between infection setting in and disease manifestation). Much like Covid-19, many remain asymptomatic and can be carriers of the virus. “The common symptoms of mumps are fever, headache, throat pain, muscle pain, body ache and abdominal discomfort. But usually, if there are no symptoms, people don’t realise the need to remain quarantined,” says Dr Chatterjee.

Mumps is usually most contagious in the first three to five days. It spreads through oral secretion. Prevention protocols are similar to Covid-19—avoid crowded spaces and contaminated surfaces and wear an N-95 mask.

The prevention of mumps is important because in vulnerable populations, such as the elderly, the immunocompromised or those with comorbidities like diabetes or hypertension, the disease can result in serious health consequences. “Mumps is not just swelling of glands, even though that is most common. If it takes a turn for the worse, it can result in encephalitis, meningitis, pancreatitis or swelling in testicles or ovaries, and these can have long-term consequences on one’s wellbeing,” cautions Dr Chatterjee.

The treatment of mumps is largely symptomatic. Doctors advise getting a blood immunological test done to confirm the disease. It is surprising to find an outbreak of the disease in India, particularly since a vaccine is available. The MMR vaccine is usually given in three doses—one at nine months, another at 15 months and the third at four to six years.

Some doctors suspect the current infections are largely in those who are unvaccinated or yet to complete all three doses. Another theory is the chance that the virus may have mutated to become more infectious and possibly escape protection offered by the vaccines. But there is no evidence yet to support the claim.

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“Post Covid-19, we are seeing an increase in viral illnesses, and while these viruses do mutate, those that have been around for as long as mumps would not be making a significant jump, becoming more contagious or deadly overnight. Viral disease outbreaks are most likely happening due to poor health status and immunity, increasing pollution levels and changing climate patterns, and also laxity in taking the necessary vaccines and precautions,” says Dr Aditya S. Chowti, internal medicine specialist at Fortis Hospital, Cunningham Road, Bengaluru.

The recent influenza outbreak in the country is another example of the same. Viruses are not necessarily becoming smarter, but most likely it is people who are becoming less so.

Published By: Shyam Balasubramanian Published On: Apr 9, 2024