Is the Mumps Virus Still Around?

While mumps is minimal in most countries, there have been reports in the UK and the US over the past couple of years.

Since 2016 the UK has had over 1000 cases of mumps every single year, with cases peaking at 5719 in 2019^[1].

Hong Kong has over 95% vaccine coverage for the mumps virus; hence endemic spread has been very low, with only 519 cases between 2014 and 2018^[2].

1. (2021). 'Confirmed cases of measles, mumps and rubella in England and Wales: 1996 to 2020'. UK Health Security Agency. 21 June 2021. Available at: <https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/measles-confirmed-cases/confirmed-cases-of-measles-mumps-and-rubella-in-england-and-wales-2012-to-2013>
2. Poon, C. (2019). 'Epidemiology of Mumps in Hong Kong, 2014-2018'. Centre for Health Protection. Available at: <https://www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/cdw_v16_2.pdf>