Mumps Epidemic in Navi Mumbai in 2023–24: Lessons for the Health Management System

To investigate the morbidity due to the mumps epidemic in Navi Mumbai region of Maharashtra during 2023–24 and identify the preventive strategies.

An outbreak investigation was carried by pediatricians in Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India, between December 2023 and February 2024. A clinical case of mumps was defined as any person with acute onset of unilateral or bilateral, tender, swelling of the parotid or other salivary gland(s), lasting at least two days.

217 documented cases of mumps were investigated. Among them 197 (90.78%) had never received mumps vaccine, and 20 had received Measles-Mumps-Rubella vaccine (MMR) in the private sector. 185 children had been immunized with Measles-Rubella Vaccine (MR) in the National Immunization programme. The opportunity to vaccinate with the additional component of mumps had been missed during immunization with MR vaccine.

This outbreak investigation highlights the need to establish a Public Health Division in the Government for monitoring all contagious diseases in the community and the timely detection and control of all outbreaks.