Mumps outbreak spreads across Kerala

Kerala has faced a continuing mumps outbreak since late twenty twenty-three, forcing school and hostel closures in Alappuzha, Thrissur and Kottayam. The outbreak has persisted into twenty twenty-six.

Case numbers surge dramatically

Mumps cases jumped from an annual average of over two thousand to seventy four thousand nine hundred seven in twenty twenty-four, then twenty six thousand four hundred sixty two in twenty twenty-five.

Studies show immunity gaps and viral differences

Research from Kerala documents immunity gaps among children, complications causing long-term disability, and genetic differences between the circulating mumps virus and the vaccine strain, revealing a gap in disease prevention.

India's vaccine programme excludes mumps

India's Universal Immunisation Programme provides two doses of measles-rubella vaccine, which does not protect against mumps. The combined MMR vaccine is available only through the private sector since the nineteen eighties.

Paediatricians have long pushed for MMR

The Indian Academy of Paediatrics has recommended MMR in place of measles-rubella vaccine, arguing mumps' public health significance is underestimated because clinical cases, complications and long-term outcomes are inadequately documented.

Government cites cost and low mortality

The National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation says adding the mumps component would more than double vaccine cost without proportionate additional health benefits. It considers mumps-associated disability not a significant public health concern.

Doctors dispute the disability assessment

Paediatricians argue mumps causes significant morbidity through acute pancreatitis, encephalitis, aseptic meningitis, reproductive gland damage and acquired sensorineural hearing loss, sometimes resulting in permanent irreversible deafness.

“Mumps may not cause mortality, but its morbidity is significant, particularly during epidemics among unimmunised children.”

Inconsistent vaccine funding standards questioned

K.K. Purushothaman, former Professor of Paediatrics at Government Medical College Thrissur, questions whether the Centre has applied consistent evidence standards when deciding which vaccines merit public funding, given inclusion of expensive vaccines like pneumococcal conjugate…

Viral strain differs from vaccine strain

A National Institute of Virology study published in Infection, Genetics and Evolution in September twenty twenty-six identified genotype C circulating in Kerala during twenty twenty-four to twenty twenty-five, genetically different from genotype N used in…

Researchers call for continued surveillance

The National Institute of Virology emphasises the need for continued molecular surveillance to track viral evolution and evaluate vaccination strategy.