Medicines for Mankind

Today's reasearch, Tomorrows's Cures

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Disease: Mumps

Last update: June 2006

Intro

Mumps is a viral infection causing tender, swollen salivary glands. Vaccines have protected children from the misery of mumps. Research is continuing to develop vaccines that are even more effective and better tolerated.

FAQ: What does the future hold?

Pharmaceutical researchers are working to develop more effective vaccines and to see if these can be given by an aerosol delivered to the respiratory tract, rather than by traditional injection. Work is also under way to understand how the virus enters human cells. Once this is known, it may be possible to devise new medicines and new vaccines to prevent the infection.