Fears over hike in mumps cases
KERRY and Cork are in the midst of a major mumps outbreak, according to HSE South figures obtained by The Kerryman.
Figures from the HSE show 120 cases of mumps in Cork and Kerry so far this year, compared with just eight in 2007.
Some 86 of these cases were reported in October and November alone.
This is the highest number of cases since a national mumps outbreak in 2005, which saw 125 people diagnosed with mumps in Cork and Kerry that year.
The majority of the new cases are in the 15 to 24 age group, most of whom were attending a third-level college. According to the HSE, there have been seven large mumps outbreaks on Irish college campuses this year.
Mumps is a contagious viral illness which causes fever, headaches and painful swelling. Complications are usually mild but it has been known to cause meningitis, deafness and, in some cases, infertility.
The HSE South is advising students to make sure they've had two doses of the Measles Mumps Rubella (MMR) vaccine in order to protect themselves from the highly contagious viral disease.
The worrying increase in mumps cases notified to the HSE's Health Protection Surveillance Centre this year has been blamed on the high number of unvaccinated young adults.
According to the HPSC, the majority of new mumps cases are occurring in either unvaccinated or only partially vaccinated people.
While most people have, at some stage, received one dose of MMR vaccine, a full vaccination requires two doses, meaning many people are unprotected should an outbreak occur.
Studies on previous outbreaks have shown that two doses of the MMR vaccine will protect between 80 per cent to 95 per cent of individuals against mumps.
There is generally a lower incidence of the disease in young children because these children are more likely to have received two doses of MMR vaccine in recent years.
Older individuals, on the other hand, are more likely to have immunity as a result of infection when they were children.
The best way to avoid contracting mumps is by getting the MMR vaccine.
In the childhood immunisation schedule, MMR is already routinely given to children after 12 months of age and at four-to-five years of age.
For individuals who do not know what vaccines they had in childhood, it's recommended that young adults and teenagers who have missed out on the school programme should receive at least one dose of the MMR vaccine to protect against the disease.
- SIMON BROUDER sbrouder@kerryman.ie
