Note: 2009 articles on UK mumps outbreaks are Here
Source: http://www.lep.co.uk/news/Students-h...ise.5956949.jp
Students hit by 'alarming' rise in mumps
Published Date:
06 January 2010
By Aasma Day, Health Reporter
Young people in Preston were today put on high alert following an alarming rise in mumps cases.
Health chiefs have revealed that cases of the highly infectious disease have been rocketing in the city with 28 cases seen in just two weeks.
Usually, health experts only see around two to three mumps cases a week.
During the whole of 2008, there were 38 cases in Preston and in 2007, there were 15 mumps cases reported in the city.
But in 2009, Preston saw a worrying 130 cases of the disease and now there seems to be a further outbreak.
The recent mumps outbreak is hitting young people and one of the victims is a student at UCLan while other affected people are pupils at Sixth Form colleges in the Preston area.
The soaring mumps cases are concerning as the illness can lead to complications such as meningitis, deafness and infertility.
Dr Ken Lamden, immunisation lead for the Health Protection Agency Cumbria and Lancashire, said: "We tend to see around two to three mumps cases a week at this time of year, but there has been a definite increase of cases in the last few weeks and we saw 28 cases within a two-week period.
"There is an ever present risk of mumps and for some reason, at times, this flares into an outbreak.
"We would urge young people to make sure they have received both doses of the MMR vaccine to protect themselves against mumps.
"We are not sure why there has been a rise in mumps cases in Preston recently. It could be down to the increased socialising over Christmas and New Year, but other areas do not seem to be affected as badly as Preston.
"The rise in cases is a cause for concern as not only is mumps and unpleasant and infectious illness, it can lead to some serious complications."
Mumps is highly infectious and spreads easily through coughs and sneezes. It causes swelling of the salivary glands in the neck and can also cause swelling of the testes, ovaries and pancreas.
Mumps can lead to complications including meningitis and deafness and infertility in men.
Students are more susceptible to mumps as, when they were younger, there was only one dose of MMR given to young people, so they do not have full protection.
Source: http://www.lep.co.uk/news/Students-h...ise.5956949.jp
Students hit by 'alarming' rise in mumps
Published Date:
06 January 2010
By Aasma Day, Health Reporter
Young people in Preston were today put on high alert following an alarming rise in mumps cases.
Health chiefs have revealed that cases of the highly infectious disease have been rocketing in the city with 28 cases seen in just two weeks.
Usually, health experts only see around two to three mumps cases a week.
During the whole of 2008, there were 38 cases in Preston and in 2007, there were 15 mumps cases reported in the city.
But in 2009, Preston saw a worrying 130 cases of the disease and now there seems to be a further outbreak.
The recent mumps outbreak is hitting young people and one of the victims is a student at UCLan while other affected people are pupils at Sixth Form colleges in the Preston area.
The soaring mumps cases are concerning as the illness can lead to complications such as meningitis, deafness and infertility.
Dr Ken Lamden, immunisation lead for the Health Protection Agency Cumbria and Lancashire, said: "We tend to see around two to three mumps cases a week at this time of year, but there has been a definite increase of cases in the last few weeks and we saw 28 cases within a two-week period.
"There is an ever present risk of mumps and for some reason, at times, this flares into an outbreak.
"We would urge young people to make sure they have received both doses of the MMR vaccine to protect themselves against mumps.
"We are not sure why there has been a rise in mumps cases in Preston recently. It could be down to the increased socialising over Christmas and New Year, but other areas do not seem to be affected as badly as Preston.
"The rise in cases is a cause for concern as not only is mumps and unpleasant and infectious illness, it can lead to some serious complications."
Mumps is highly infectious and spreads easily through coughs and sneezes. It causes swelling of the salivary glands in the neck and can also cause swelling of the testes, ovaries and pancreas.
Mumps can lead to complications including meningitis and deafness and infertility in men.
Students are more susceptible to mumps as, when they were younger, there was only one dose of MMR given to young people, so they do not have full protection.
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