Mumps outbreak among students in the Netherlands, 2011: Pilot study to confirm mumps infection by filter paper blood serology

Since the beginning of December 2009, the incidence of mumps has increased in
the Netherlands. The majority of cases are among students who have been
vaccinated with at least one dose of MMR vaccine. A review of routine
surveillance data revealed that approximately 30 cases had attended a four-day
student party hosted in a student association building in Leiden, and
implicated the party as the possible source of infection.

Mumps vaccination is included in the Dutch National Immunisation Programme
(Rijksvaccinatieprogramma (RVP)). It is therefore important to investigate
which risk factors play a role in acquisition of mumps virus, and to
characterize this outbreak among vaccinated students. Besides, the 'correlate
for protection' (the immunity level (antibodies or cellular immunity) of an
individual above which he/she is protected against infection) will be
investigated.

a. To assess the burden of mumps in the student population.
b. To describe the risk factors for mumps virus infection (symptomatic and
asymptomatic).
c. To determine the relative contribution of household transmission and
transmission at the party to the incidence of symptomatic mumps.
d. To study the contribution of asymptomatic infection to the total number of
mumps virus infections.

The study is an observational cohort study conducted among students, in which a
questionnaire and samples (oral fluid and finger-prick blood) for
microbiological testing are obtained from participants. The following persons
are eligible to participate: Members of student corpora in Utrecht, Leiden and
Delft who indicated in the pre-screening questionnaire that they could be
contacted for micribiological sampling.

The individual participant does not have benefit in participating to this
study. He/she does benefit indirectly since the study aims to improve the
National Immunisation Programme, and it is only a small effort which is needed
from the participants.

Collection of fingerprick blood may be a little painful. The lancet which
pricks the finger is in a plastic protective shield and is sterile. The needle
is not exposed after use of the lancet and cannot be reused. Risk of infecting
another via the lancet is therefore very unlikely.