Mumps case definition

This document contains the case definitions for Mumps which is nationally notifiable within Australia. This definition should be used to determine whether a case should be notified.

Communicable Diseases Surveillance

Australian national notifiable diseases case definitions - Mumps

Reporting

Only confirmed cases should be notified.

Confirmed case

A confirmed case requires either:

1. laboratory definitive evidence

2. Laboratory suggestive evidence AND clinical evidence

3. clinical evidence AND epidemiological evidence.

Laboratory definitive evidence

1. Isolation of mumps virus

2. Detection of mumps virus by nucleic acid testing

3. IgG seroconversion or a significant increase in antibody level or a fourfold or greater rise in titre to mumps virus EXCEPT when there has been recent mumps-containing immunisation.

Laboratory suggestive evidence

Detection of mumps-specific IgM antibody (in the absence of recent mumps vaccination).

Clinical evidence

A clinically compatible illness characterised by swelling of the parotid or other salivary glands lasting two days or more without other apparent cause.

Epidemiological evidence

An epidemiological link is established when there is:

1. Contact between two people involving a plausible mode of transmission at a time when:

a) one of them is likely to be infectious (6-7 days before onset of overt parotitis to nine days after);
AND
b) the other has an illness that starts within approximately 12 to 25 days after this contact;

AND
2. At least one case in the chain of epidemiologically linked cases (which may involve many cases) is laboratory confirmed.