York Region Ontario: Mumps on the rise

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Source: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/mumps-on-the-rise-in-parts-of-ontario/article1411276/

Mumps on the rise in parts of Ontario

Health officials warn people to be on alert after cases go up in York, North Bay and Parry Sound

Toronto ? The Canadian Press Published on Thursday, Dec. 24, 2009 7:04AM EST Last updated on Thursday, Dec. 24, 2009 7:17AM EST

York region health officials are urging people to be on alert as the number of mumps cases rises in the area.

There have been nine confirmed cases of mumps in the region north of Toronto since September 1st, and 47 cases across Ontario.

Most of the York cases are university and high school students.

They're more at risk because they're more likely to have had only one dose of the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine.

The disease's symptoms include swelling under the jaw with fever and fatigue, and it can lead to deafness and infertility.

Lara Dalla-Vincenza of the York region health unit says people should know mumps can be spread through sharing drinks, cigarettes, and kissing.

More than a dozen cases have also been reported in the North Bay and Parry Sound area.

 

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Re: York Region Ontario: Mumps on the rise

Source: http://network.nationalpost.com/np/...warns-students-about-rise-in-mumps-cases.aspx

York Region warns students about rise in mumps cases
Posted: December 24, 2009, 11:56 AM by Ron Nurwisah
health

By Kenyon Wallace, National Post

York Region is reporting a jump in the number of confirmed mumps cases over the past four months, prompting the region to issue a warning to high school and university students who may be at higher risk of catching the virus.

Ontario's Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care says it has discovered an increase in mumps cases across the province, particularly in York Region. Between September 1st and December 21s, 47 confirmed mumps cases were reported in Ontario, nine of which were in York Region. Last year, the region reported only two cases of the virus.

?Most confirmed cases are university and high school students,? said Dr. Karim Kurji, York Region?s Medical Officer of Health. ?These students may be at higher risk of the mumps virus because of their shared living arrangements and close social contacts. In addition, this group is likely at higher risk for infection because they only received one dose of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine as a child.?

To be fully protected from the virus, two doses of the vaccine are needed. However, York Region Public Health says many Ontario residents born between 1970 and 1991 likely only received one dose of the vaccine. In 1996, the province started a measles "catch up" campaign, but that vaccine did not provide protection for mumps or rubella. The region is urging residents to check their immunization records and contact their health care provider if they require a second vaccine.

Mumps is a viral infection that is spread through the exchange of saliva or mucous. Common routes of infection include the sharing of food, drinks, cigarettes or through kissing. The virus causes fever, heading and painful swelling of the salivary glands in the jaw. In serious cases, it can cause swelling of the brian and lead to meningitis or encephalitis. It can also cause temporary or permanent deafness and swelling of the testes or ovaries which, although very rare, can result in infertility.

Those who contract the illness are contagious for about 6 days before symptoms appear, and about 10 days after symptoms become apparent.

To avoid the virus, York Region is asking residents to take the following precautions:

? Wash hands well and often; if soap and water are unavailable, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains between 60 to 90 per cent alcohol
? Cough and sneeze into sleeves or a tissue, not hands; dispose of tissues immediately
? Avoid touching eyes, nose or mouth;
? Stay home when ill and limit contact with others
? Clean and disinfect shared surfaces

Dr. Erica Weir, associate medical officer of health for York Region, says that if you do become infected, drink lots of fluids, get plenty of rest and isolate yourself so you don't infect others.

"You can feel pretty whacked out. You can have fever and it can last for two or three weeks," she said. "We're putting this announcement out now because there is a lot of kissing and sharing of drinks over the holidays, particularly as university students come home, so we just want to make them alert to this potential."

National Post