The mumps virus, while less contagious than some viruses, is still contagious. It is most often transmitted when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It can cause symptoms similar to those seen in other medical conditions. Therefore, a doctor who suspects a person is infected with the mumps virus may perform certain tests in order to rule out these conditions before making a definitive diagnosis.
The cause of
mumps is an infection with the mumps virus. The virus is an RNA (ribonucleic acid) virus from the family
Paramyxovirus and the genus
Rubulavirus. The mumps virus only infects humans, and mumps is considered less contagious than both
measles and
chickenpox.
How Common Are Mumps Virus Infections?
The mumps virus is found worldwide; however, in the United States, mumps is relatively uncommon. Fewer than 300 cases were reported in 2003. (Prior to the
mumps vaccine being licensed in 1967, 100,000 to 200,000 cases are estimated to have occurred in the United States each year.)
When mumps virus infections do occur, they are more common in those living in close quarters, including:
- Schools
- Military quarters
- Orphanages.
Infections with the virus are most common during spring, especially April and May.
Mumps appears to be happening more in adults, with approximately 40 percent of mumps virus infections occurring in this group.
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