Five-fold increase in number of reported mumps cases this year

THERE has been a five-fold increase in the number of mumps cases reported to the Health Protection Surveillance Centre so far this year, new figures show.

Figures from the centre show that 927 cases have been reported to date this year, compared to 142 in 2007.

Poor immunity has sparked the latest serious outbreak and the final figure for 2008 is likely to be greater by year end.