Number of mumps cases rises ninefold

DESPITE a rise in the uptake of the vaccine against measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), the number of mumps cases exceeded 1,300 at the end of 2008 — more than nine times the number reported in 2007.

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) said uptake of the initial dose of MMR was 87% nationally in 2007, up 1% on 2006.

Uptake of the vaccine in Health Service Executive (HSE) regions ranged from 84% to 94%, with just four reporting uptakes of more than 90%.

According to the centre’s 2007 report none of the HSE regions achieved the target uptake of 95%.

In 2007, the 24-month uptake of the five-in-one vaccine against diptheria, tetanus, whooping cough and the bacterial infection haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) was 92%.

HPSC director, Dr Darina O’Flanagan said while the continued rise in immunisation uptake figures was welcome, national and regional monitoring of school-based vaccination programmes needed to be improved.

The 2007 report shows reported complications associated with mumps and they include nine cases of orchitis — inflammation of the testicles, six cases of deafness and one case each of meningitis, encephalitis — inflammation of the brain and mastitis — inflammation of the breast.

Dr O’Flanagan said an MMR catch-up programme in schools this year should prevent mumps outbreaks and help Ireland meet the European goal of eliminating measles in Europe by next year.

With nearly 60% of cases of mumps reported among 15-24 year olds, the HPSC is encouraging teenagers and young adults to ensure they have received two doses of MMR.

There ware at least seven outbreaks of mumps in third-level colleges last year.

It was also found that seven out of 10 cases of mumps reported to the HPSC 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.

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