Five-fold increase in number of reported mumps cases this year
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.
Several outbreaks have been notified in third-level colleges and in schools, both primary and second-level this year. Almost 60% of reported cases are in the 10 to 24 age group.
The centre’s specialist in public health medicine, Dr Suzanne Cotter, said this year’s increase in mumps was a reflection of continuing susceptibility in young adults to the disease.
“This is happening because many young people were never vaccinated or only received one dose,” she pointed out.
“The focus is on those who are less than 25 years of age because that is the age group where the highest number of cases are reported,” she added.
Figures compiled by the centre show that there were 420 cases reported in 2004; 1,079 in 2005 and 427 in 2006.
The centre believes that MMR vaccination coverage should be at least 95% for both doses to prevent outbreaks of the disease, a level that has never been achieved nationally.
It has been found that seven out of 10 cases of mumps reported to the centre in the past five years were not immunised or were insufficiently protected against the disease.
Mumps became a notifiable disease in 1988 when one dose of the MMR vaccine was included in the childhood immunisation schedule.
In 1992, a second dose of MMR was recommended for children aged 10 to 14 and in 1999 the recommended age for the second dose was lowered to four to five years.
And while most local health authorities continued to recommend the second dose for children aged 10 to 14, it is not known how many in the older age group received it.
Dr Cotter said students going to university for the first time are encouraged to ensure that they have received two doses of MMR.
And, she said, even if there was no vaccination record available, they should go ahead and get vaccinated anyway because there would be no problem in receiving a third dose.
The vaccination is free although an administration fee may apply for non-medical card holders. The vaccine is available from GPs or student health services in third-level colleges.
* www.ndsc.ie/hpsc
* Mumps is a contagious acute viral illness that causes fever, headache and painful, swollen salivary glands.
* It is spread from person to person by coughs and sneezes and can be transmitted through kissing.
* Complications may include meningitis, deafness and inflammation of the testicles, ovaries or pancreas.
* Mumps can be prevented with immunisation with the MMR vaccine that protects against three viral diseases — measles, mumps and rubella. Two doses of the vaccine are recommended.
* It is also advised that anyone who has mumps should stay away from the workplace/college/school for nine days after the onset of swollen glands.
* More information on mumps is available at the Health Protection Surveillance Centre website at www.hpsc.ie
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