With mumps cases steadily rising, Tamil Nadu has requested the Centre to include the Mumps-Measles-Rubella (MMR) vaccine in the Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP). 

Need of Mumps-Measles-Rubella (MMR) vaccine

• Tamilnadu  currently records 150–200 mumps cases monthly, with 1,091 cases reported in 2023–24, a sharp increase compared to previous years.
• A study in the Tamil Nadu Journal of Public Health and Medical Research highlighted that most cases occurred in children aged 6–9 years (40%) and under 5 years (33%), with women accounting for more than half of the total cases.
• Tamil Nadu’s Directorate of Public Health has emphasized that including the mumps component in routine immunisation would help control its spread and mitigate risks. 
• Currently, the State’s UIP covers 11 vaccines for 12 preventable diseases, including measles and rubella, with the MR vaccine introduced in 2017.

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About Mump Disease

• Mumps is a viral infection, primarily affecting the salivary glands, causing swelling and pain. While generally mild in children, it can have serious complications in adults.
• Cause: Caused by the Paramyxovirus( mumps virus) , transmitted through respiratory droplets (coughing, sneezing).
• Symptoms: Fever, Headache, Muscle aches, Fatigue and  Loss of appetite with swollen and tender salivary glands (parotid glands, under the ears)
  • In some cases it also leads to  Orchitis (inflammation of the testicles), meningitis (inflammation of the brain and spinal cord), encephalitis (inflammation of the brain).
• Prevention through Immunization:
  • The most effective way to prevent mumps is through vaccination with the Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) vaccine.
  • Two doses of the MMR vaccine are typically recommended, usually given during childhood.
  • High vaccination coverage within a community is crucial to achieve herd immunity and minimize outbreaks.