Mumps in Poland in 2022.

Abstract

Background: Mumps, also known as Sudden parotitis, is a viral disease whose main source of infection is the sick/infected person. It posed a serious public health threat in Poland before the introduction of mandatory vaccination. In 2003, Poland introduced the Immunization Program, which included a two-dose vaccination against mumps as part of the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine for all children.

Objective: The study aimed to assess the epidemiological situation of mumps in Poland in 2022 compared to previous years, including an analysis of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Material and methods: The analysis of the epidemiological situation of mumps in Poland in 2022 was based on the interpretation of data published in the annual bulletin: "Infectious Diseases and Poisonings in Poland in 2022" and "Vaccinations in Poland in 2022".

Results: In 2022, 922 cases of mumps were registered in Poland. This was a 90.5% increase compared to 2021 when 484 cases were recorded. The total incidence was 2.4 per 100,000 residents, 84.6% higher than in 2021. The highest incidence of 3.4 per 100 000 residents was registered in the Mazowieckie voivodeship, and the lowest, as in the previous year, was 1.0/100 000 residents in the Dolnośląskie voivodeship. The highest incidence (12.9/100 000) was recorded in children aged 0-4 and 5-9 (16.1/100 000). The incidence in men (3.0/100 000) was higher than in women (1.9/100 000). In 2022, the number of hospitalizations for mumps in Poland was 20, an increase of 122.2% compared to 2021, when 9 people were hospitalized.

Conclusions: The year 2022 showed an overall upward trend in registered mumps cases. The decrease in the number of mumps cases in 2021 was a result of the ongoing pandemic. The restrictions implemented during the pandemic period contributed to a decrease in the number of cases of various droplet-transmitted diseases, including mumps. Still, the observed number of mumps cases in 2022 remains below levels observed during the pre-pandemic COVID-19 period (2019).