Mumps in prison: description of an outbreak in Manitoba, Canada

Objective: There is a lack of published information on the management of mumps in a prison setting. We describe an outbreak of mumps that occurred in a medium-security correctional centre (Milner Ridge) in Manitoba, Canada. Methods: A case definition of mumps consistent with that in the document 'Guidelines for the Prevention and Control of Mumps Outbreaks in Canada' was adopted. Cell culture, polymerase chain reaction, and serology were used for case confirmation. Results: Five confirmed cases of mumps infection were identified at the Milner Ridge Correctional Centre between January 12 and February 5, 2009. One additional confirmed case and 3 additional probable cases were identified at a second correctional centre. Outbreak control at Milner Ridge was accomplished by cohorting the affected units of the centre, providing education on mumps, deferring transfers, and monitoring for further cases. Vaccination was offered to inmates and staff on the assumption, based on average inmate age, that the majority of inmates would have previously received, at most, a single dose of mumps-containing vaccine. Conclusion: An outbreak of mumps in a correctional setting was successfully contained via implementation and tailoring of basic infection control measures, and vaccination of inmates and staff. Given the relatively young age of many inmates and the parallels between prisons and dormitories, it could be argued that inmates may represent another group of individuals for whom a second dose of mumps vaccine (if not received in childhood) would be beneficial as primary prophylaxis. Key words: Mumps; prison; infection control; vaccination; outbreak Objectif : Il manque d'informations publiees sur la prise en charge des oreillons en milieu carceral. Nous decrivons une eclosion d'oreillons survenue dans le centre correctionnel a securite moyenne de Milner Ridge au Manitoba (Canada). Methode : Nous avons adopte la definition d'un cas d'oreillons trouvee dans les Lignes directrices pour la prevention et le controle des eclosions d'oreillons au Canada. La culture cellulaire, la reaction de polymerisation en chaine et la serologie ont ete utilises pour confirmer les cas. Resultats : Cinq cas confirmes d'infection ourlienne ont ete identifies a Milner Ridge entre le 12 janvier et le 5 fevrier 2009. Un autre cas confirme et trois autres cas probables ont ete identifies dans un second centre correctionnel. On a maitrise l'eclosion de Milner Ridge en repartissant en cohortes les unites affectees du Centre, en donnant de l'information sur les oreillons, en retardant les transferts et en surveillant la manifestation de nouveaux cas. On a offert le vaccin aux detenus et au personnel en partant de l'hypothese que d'apres la moyenne d'age des detenus, la majorite d'entre eux n'avaient deja recu, au plus, qu'une seule dose du vaccin combine contre les oreillons. Conclusion : Une eclosion d'oreillons en milieu carceral a ete endiguee par la mise en oeuvre et l'adaptation de mesures de base pour le controle des infections et par la vaccination des detenus et du personnel. Etant donne l'age relativement jeune de nombreux detenus et les paralleles entre les prisons et les dortoirs, on peut soutenir que les detenus representent un autre groupe de sujets pour qui une seconde dose du vaccin anti-ourlien (si non recu durant l'enfance) serait benefique en tant que mesure de prophylaxie primaire. Mots cles : oreillons; prison; controle des infections; vaccination; flambees epidemiques
Mumps virus is a moderately to highly contagious enveloped RNA virus belonging to the family Paramyxoviridae. (1) Mumps is spread through respiratory droplets and contact with contaminated fomites. (1) Clinical [...]