The Malaysia Ministry of Health (MOH) reported investigating an mumps outbreak among students of Izzuddin Shah Religious School, Ipoh, Perak.
The outbreak involved 21 male students between 13 to 17 years old from a total of 660 students and school staff who were exposed (3.2%). All cases are stable and have been given outpatient treatment.
Health officials advise parents to ensure that their children get immunization for mumps disease to avoid complications of infection. In Malaysia, mumps immunization is administered in the form of three (3) Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) vaccines since 2002.
Mumps disease is caused by Paramyxovirus virus infection. Patients will have fever, headache, muscle aches, fatigue, loss of appetite and pain and swelling of the salivary glands. It can be spread through droplets of respiratory and salivary fluid and through the contact of the contaminated object. Mumps infection is usually mild and can completely cure without complications after two to three weeks. Complications of infection in the testicular gland, the ear, the brain, the ovaries and the breasts are very rare.
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