Mumps Meningoencephalitis in Stockholm, November 1964-July 1971: III. Some Epidemiological Aspects

Abstract

During 7 epidemiological years (November 1964–July 1971) 727 patients with mumps meningoencephalitis were hospitalized at Roslagstull Hospital in Stockholm. Yearly and monthly variations in incidence and in age and sex distribution were analyzed as well as yearly variations in the rate of mumps meningoencephalitis to mumps. Marked differences were observed with regard to yearly and monthly variations in incidence but not in distribution of age and sex. The rate of mumps meningoencephalitis to mumps in general differed only moderately from one epidemic to another, varying from 1.4–2.8%. Out of the 727 patients, 655 were investigated by attempts at virus isolation from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The rate of recovery of mumps virus from the CSF was analyzed for different epidemiological years, for different months of an average epidemiological year and for different stages of epidemics. No remarkable trends were observed.