Epidemiology of mumps in Tongchuan city, Shaanxi province

Objective To understand the epidemiological characteristics of mumps in Tongchuan and provide scientific evidence for the effective control of the disease. Methods Descriptive epidemiological analysis was conducted on the incidence data of mumps in Tongchuan from 2004 to2009,saliva specimen were collected from mumps patients to isolate mumps virus and blood samples were taken from healthy people to detect IgG to mumps virus. Results A total of 1155 mumps cases were reported during this period with the average incidence of 22.87/lakh. Two incidence peaks occurred during a year. Most cases were children aged from 5-15 years and most cases occurred in students. Totally 452 serum specimens were collected from healthy people. The antibody positive rate was 74.78% and the geometric mean concentration(GMC)was 830.51 U/ml. The mumps virus antibody positive rate and GMC increased with age. The antibody positive rate was highest in children aged 7-10 years(100%)and the GMC was highest in children aged 5-6 years(1923.14 U/ml). Both the antibody positive rate and GMC decreased slightly with age, but still remained at high level. The antibody positive rate and GMC were lowest in children agedConclusion Mumps incidence remained at high level in Tongchuan in recent years. The major pathogen was mumps virus genotype F. The prevention and control of mumps should be strengthened in the key population of children aged<7 years, especially in the young children aged 1-3 years.