RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The number of cases of mumps grew 130% from January to August of this year in the state of Rio de Janeiro compared to the same period last year when 948 cases were registered.
In the first eight months of 2019, 2,185 cases of mumps were registered, surpassing the records for the entire year of 2018 (1,973) and 2017 (1,376). There were no deaths caused by the disease from 2017 until August of this year, revealed the State Secretariat of Health (SES) of Rio de Janeiro.
The spokesman for SES, Doctor Alexandre Chieppe, explained that “possibly, the factors behind this increase in cases are the same as those related to the reappearance of measles”. According to Chieppe, an important part of the population of Rio de Janeiro does not have a complete measles vaccination scheme. For Chieppe, this susceptibility of part of the population explains the increase in the number of cases of mumps when compared to previous years, and is also responsible for the reappearance of measles in the state.
Age group
Chieppe recalled that the zero dose was introduced for measles and mumps, which must be given to children from six months to a year old. “The epidemiological data for measles were showing this need. Mumps, on the other hand, continues to affect mainly young people and adults between 20 and 49 years of age.
Chieppe insisted that any person, from one year to 49 years of age who does not have two doses taken after one year of age, with intervals of at least 30 days between these two doses, should attend a vaccination post for an evaluation to see if there is the need for inoculation.
The SES doctor estimated that the number of mumps cases is expected to still grow by the end of the year.
Contagion
Infectologist Edimilson Migowski, professor of the School of Medicine of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) and president of the Vital Brazil Institute, recalled that mumps is a contagious disease that can pass from one person to another through saliva. “Human beings are the only ones who can develop this disease,” he said.
“It’s the kind of disease that, if you have a good vaccination coverage, it can be eradicated, like smallpox, which was eradicated by good vaccination coverage. Mumps is the same logic,” said Migowski.
Source: Agência Brasil