Students warned over mumps danger

Students were today warned to get MMR jabs as surging levels of mumps strike college campuses across the country.

Cases of the illness which can lead to meningitis, deafness and swollen reproductive organs have more than tripled since last year.

Health chiefs said people under 25 are most at risk with students particularly vulnerable after seven outbreaks in third-level colleges already this year.

Dr Joan O’Donnell, a specialist in public health medicine at the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC), urged those who may not be vaccinated to seek medical advice.

“New students who haven’t been vaccinated or who haven’t had mumps need to talk to their GP or student health service about getting protected,” she insisted.

So far this year 459 cases of mumps have been reported with 22 people having to be treated in hospital.

Six in every ten cases have been among 10 to 24-year-olds, according to Dr O’Donnell.

“This follows 142 cases in 2007, well down on 1,079 in 2005, which came after a nationwide outbreak that year,” she said.

“It appears that most of these cases caught mumps in third level colleges or secondary schools.”

The HPSC has urged all students to make sure they have had two doses of the MMR vaccine which protects against measles, mumps and rubella.

“Anyone who is not sure about their vaccination status needs to get another dose to be on the safe side,” said Dr O’Donnell.

“Mumps is a contagious acute viral illness that causes fever, headache and painful swollen glands.

“Complications are usually mild but it can cause meningitis, deafness and inflammation of the testicles, ovaries or pancreas.”

The MMR vaccine is free although an administration fee may apply for non-medical card holders.

Mumps outbreaks have already struck campuses at NUI Maynooth, Dublin City University, University College Cork, NUI Galway, University College Limerick, Waterford IT and Limerick IT this year.