Mumps Agent Information Sheet

Boston University
Research Occupational Health Program (ROHP)
617-358-7647

Agent

Mumps virus is a member of the Paramyxoviridae family. The external surface of the viron is regularly studded with glycoproteins. The genome is linear single stranded RNA surrounded by repeating protein subunits.

Disease/Infection

Generalized viral syndrome causing parotiditis.

Pathogenicity

Disease is asymptomatic in about 35% of those individuals that are infected. The most characteristic response is painful enlargement of the parotid glands. Severe cases may progress to include epididymo-orchitis in prepubescent males, which can cause atrophy of the testes, but rarely sterility. Mumps can also produce transient high frequency deafness.

Biosafety Information

Risk Group/BSL
Risk Group 2
Biosafety level 2

Modes of Transmission

Host Range/Reservoir
Humans are the primary host, but non-human primates can also be a host.

Symptoms
Mumps is an acute generalized viral infection that occurs primarily in school aged children and adolescents. The most prominent manifestation of this disease is nonsuppurative swelling and tenderness of the salivary glands, with one or both parotid glands involved. As characteristic with many viral infections, mumps is usually more severe in persons past the age of puberty. 

Systemic infection spread by viremia. The major targets include glandular and nervous tissue. The virus enters via the pharynx or conjunctiva, there is local multiplication followed by viremia. A secondary viremia disseminates the virus to salivary glands, testes, ovaries, pancreas and the brain.

• Early symptoms are uncommon but may include fever loss of appetite, achiness, and headache with a moderately high temperature, usually lasting for 3-4 days.
• Swelling of the glands under and in front of the ear usually starts on one side and then progresses to the other side rapidly. Swelling may last from 7-10 days. Eating or drinking acidic or citric foods causes much discomfort.
• Other symptoms may include testicular pain (in males), abdominal pain, seizures, stiff neck, and difficulty swallowing.
• Neurological infections such as encephalitis and meningitis are possible and represent the most common extra salivary gland manifestations of mumps.

Incubation Period
The incubation period is 16-18 days

Viability
Mumps virus is susceptible to 1% sodium hypochlorite, 70% ethanol, glutaraldehyde, phenolic disinfectants, peracetic acid, and hydrogen peroxide.

Survival Outside Host
Paramyxoviruses do not survive long outside the host.

Information for Lab Workers

Laboratory PPE

Lab coat, gloves and eye protection when direct skin contact with infected materials or animals is unavoidable. Eye protection must be used where there is a known or potential risk of exposure to splashes.

Containment

BSL-2 facilities, equipment, and operational practices for work involving infectious or potentially infectious materials, animals, or cultures. Procedures that are likely to generate aerosols should be conducted in a biosafety cabinet. Practices may be enhanced based on risk assessment.

In Case of Exposure/Disease

• For injuries in the lab which are major medical emergencies (heart attacks, seizures, etc…):
  • Medical Campus: call or have a coworker call the Control Center at 617-414–4144.
  • Charles River Campus: call or have a coworker call campus security at 617-353-2121.
    You will be referred to or transported to the appropriate health care location by the emergency response team.
• For lab exposures (needle sticks, bite, cut, scratch, splash, etc…) involving animals or infectious agents, or for unexplained symptoms or illness call the ROHP 24/7 hour number (1-617-358-ROHP (7647); or, 8-ROHP (7647) if calling from an on-campus location) to be connected with the BU Research Occupational Health Program (ROHP) medical officer. ROHP will refer you to the appropriate health care location.
• Under any of these scenarios, always inform the physician of your work in the laboratory and the agent(s) that you work with.
• Provide the wallet-size agent ID card to the physician.

Vaccination

Mumps vaccine is the best way to prevent mumps. The vaccine is included in the combination of measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) and measles-mumps-rubella-varicella (MMRV) vaccines. Two doses of mumps vaccine are 88% (range: 66-95%) effective at preventing the disease; one dose is 78% (range: 49%−91%) effective.

The mumps vaccine is available as:

• MMR (Measles-Mumps-Rubella)
• MMRV (Measles-Mumps-Rubella-Varicella Virus Vaccine Live)

As with other live virus vaccines, mumps vaccine should not be administered to pregnant women, patients receiving immunosuppressive therapy, or those with severe febrile illnesses, advanced malignancies, or congenital or acquired immunodeficiency.

Information for First Responders/Medical Personnel

Public Health Issues

Person to person transmission is possible, droplet precautions should be utilized. In Massachusetts, mumps is a reportable disease; the Department of Public Health should be notified.

All exposures must be reported to MDPH (www.mass.gov/dph/) and the Boston Public Health Commission (www.BPHC.org).

Diagnosis/Surveillance

A physical examination can confirm the presence of the swollen glands. Definitive diagnosis is made by serologic studies, viral isolation, or PCR assay. The presence of IgM antibodies as determined by ELISA or a fourfold rise between acute and convalescent serology on complement fixation, HAI, ELISA, or neutralization testing confirms the diagnosis.

First Aid/Post Exposure Prophylaxis

Perform one of the following actions:

Treatment

There is currently no treatment for mumps other than supportive care. Treatment with analgesic-antipyretics such as aspirin or acetaminophen may provide relief from pain and fever. Post exposure vaccination with the MMR vaccine could be given to individuals without adequate mumps immunity.

References

Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett’s Principles and practices of Infectious Disease 6^th Edition, Elsevier, 2005.

CDC Mumps Fact Sheet – http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/parents/diseases/child/mumps.html

Control of Communicable Diseases Manual. David L. Heymann. Washington DC, USA: American Public Health Association Press, 19th edition 2008; pages 402-408

Revised: 9/20/2012