Western Health has taken precautions to prevent any further spread of this second confirmed mumps infection. “We have double checked the vaccination status of schoolmates of this child, and have offered vaccine to children who haven’t had a second dose of the Mumps vaccine. We have also offered vaccine to teachers and support staff at Stephenville Primary who were born from January 1970 to November 1973, as this is the group in this province we consider to be non-immune,” says Dr. Mercer.
Newfoundland and Labrador introduced the mumps vaccine in 12 month olds in December 1974. The National Advisory Council on Immunization in their 2006 guidelines considers a single dose of mumps vaccine at or beyond 12 months to be protective.
Individuals born after 1982 in this province have nearly all received a second dose of Measles/Mumps/Rubella (MMR) vaccine as part of a catch up program when the 18 month MMR booster was introduced for additional Measles protection in 1997. Western Health’s vaccination rates for school aged children for MMR are 97– 99%.
It is assumed that most people born before 1970 have natural immunity to the mumps due to exposure in their earlier years when mumps infection was prevalent.
Mumps is an acute viral infection of the salivary glands. Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle ache and swelling and tenderness of the salivary glands at the angle of the jaw. Infection occurs through direct contact with respiratory droplets from the nose or throat, through saliva, coughing, sneezing, sharing drinks, kissing or from contact with any surface that has been contaminated with the mumps virus. Rarely, mumps infection can lead to meningitis, inflammation of the testicles or ovaries, inflammation of the pancreas and transient or permanent hearing loss.
Mumps cases are currently being reported in seven other Canadian provinces, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Ontario, Manitoba, Alberta and British Columbia. The outbreak activity remains centered around Nova Scotia and New Brunswick localities. All cases reported outside of the Maritimes are either linked to the cases in the Maritimes or are close contacts of these cases. There are no other confirmed cases of Mumps in Newfoundland and Labrador at this point.
Anyone who thinks they may have been exposed to a case of mumps or anyone who develops symptoms compatible with mumps (including swelling in the jaw area) should stay at home and contact their physician or public health office by telephone for further information.
Western Health recommends you reduce your risk of exposure to mumps as well as other infections by the following: good hand washing, avoid sharing drinking glasses or eating utensils and cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze with a tissue or your elbow.
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For more information contact:
Heidi Staeben-Simmons
Director of Communications,
Western Health. 709-637-5252