Vaccination urged as mumps cases still on the rise
The number of cases reached almost double last year’s by early November, with 414 reported cases nationally, most of them in the Dublin region.
Within the HSE South region of Cork and Kerry, there were 156 notified to health authorities up to last Monday, including a number of outbreaks at schools and third-level colleges in the area.
Around 10 students at a Cork City second-level school are believed to be among the latest affected. Christian Brothers College deputy principal Seamus Bruton said the boys were affected since around late last week, mostly from the same year group.
“It seems to have eased in terms of boys reporting in, so hopefully we have seen the peak pass,” Mr Bruton said on Thursday.
After advising the HSE of the situation, the school sent letters home to students’ parents with advice, including information on the need to be up to date with their vaccines.
Of 17 outbreaks reported nationally up to early November, six were linked to universities and colleges, three to schools, six were family outbreaks and two were in the general community. However, sporadic cases not linked to any particular setting have also been reported.
A HSE spokesperson told the Irish Examiner: “The best prevention against mumps is two doses of MMR vaccination. Some teenagers or young adults who did not obtain two doses of MMR vaccine are encouraged to obtain the vaccine from their GP or student health services.”
The most recent upsurge coincided with the beginning of the academic term in autumn, and 60% of this year’s cases are in males. Of all cases, 146 were aged 17-20 a rate seven times among those aged 16 or younger.
The most commonly reported symptoms were fever, and inflammation and swelling of the salivary glands, with 22 people in hospital as a result of mumps infection.
University College Cork issued advice to students and staff in October, and again this month, after increased numbers of cases on campus. Its student health service asked anyone with mumps not to attend for five days after swelling, which is usually the most infectious period and a high risk of transmitting it to others.
While having full MMR vaccination does not guarantee immunity from contracting mumps, it is the only available protection. In addition, people who have been vaccinated are usually more mildly affected if they do become ill.
Among all cases reported this year up to early November, the vaccination status of two-thirds was known, and half of those reported having received two doses of MMR vaccine, although the self-reporting may not be verified accurate.
The vaccine is free for children, with the first dose normally given at 12 months, and the second when children start school, aged four or five.
The HSE has also undertaken, since 2009, an MMR catch-up campaign for school students.
Further mumps and MMR vaccine information is available from the websites of the Health Protection Surveillance Centre or the HSE’s national immunisation office.
