Mumps: Vaccine Preventable Diseases Surveillance Standards

Overview

Mumps, caused by a paramyxovirus, is generally a mild disease with fever, headache and swelling of the salivary glands (parotitis); however, complications may occur such as meningitis, encephalitis and orchitis among males, and mastitis and oophoritis among females. Mumps is a leading cause of acquired sensorineural deafness among children. Humans are the only known natural host for mumps virus, which is spread via direct contact or by airborne droplets from the upper respiratory tract of infected individuals.