Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the reasons for the increase in mumps cases in the last five years.

An increase in mumps activity was observed in England in the first quarter (Q1) of 2019 with 795 laboratory confirmed mumps infections. Cases were reported in all regions of England, predominantly in young adults aged 15 to 34 years (703/795, 88%). Almost half (352/795, 44%) of the cases in Q1 were in unvaccinated individuals. Whilst this is triple the total number of infections (247 cases) confirmed in England in Q1 of 2018, increases in mumps cases have been observed in previous years. In Q1 of 2013, a total of 980 cases were confirmed.

Further information is available to view at the following link:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/804024/hpr1819_mmr2.pdf

Although mumps can occur in fully vaccinated individuals, due to secondary vaccine failure, it is less likely to lead to complications requiring hospitalisation. While the mumps component of the Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine is highly effective at protecting young children, immunity can wane over time. Therefore, older teenagers and adults who received two doses of MMR in childhood can still get mumps although this is generally mild compared to those who are unvaccinated.