RELATIONSHIP OF OCCUPATION TO RISK OF CLINICAL MUMPS IN ADULTS

A mail survey (21,230 physicians, dentists, nurses, teachers and faculty members of a university) was conducted in Western New York during January, 1968 in order to assess the influence of occupational exposure to children on the risk of acquiring clinical mumps in selected groups of adults. Nine %of those without a prior history of mumps acquired an occupation related case of mumps. This rate varied widely among the study groups according to the occupational exposure to young children. It was highest among pediatricians and lowest among staff members of the university. Among teachers there was an inverse relationship between age of their students and per cent acquiring mumps while teaching. These differences were also demonstrated when the mumps case rate per 1,000 susceptible person-years of exposure and age specific attack rates were calculated. © 1969 by The Johns Hopkins University.