THE Health Service Executive has confirmed that there has been an outbreak of mumps in Kerry and Cork with teenagers worst affected.
There has been an increase in the number of cases of mumps notified to the Department of Public Health in the HSE South following a notable increase in the number of cases reported in other regions of the country.
Most cases are teenagers and young adults in the 15-24 years of age with the highest numbers of cases are in those aged 18-19 years of age.
“In Cork and Kerry, we have noted that many of the cases are among young people attending third level institutions,” a spokeswoman for the HSE South remarked
There are two important factors in preventing the spread of mumps while it is circulating and they is a high level of age appropriate MMR vaccination as well as making sure anyone with mumps limits their contact with others while infectious.
The Department of Public Health, HSE South is recommending that students and young adults should ensure they have had two doses of the MMR vaccine, available free of charge from the HSE. Anyone who is not sure if they have had both doses can safely receive an additional dose.
A person with mumps is advised not to attend work, school, college, university or child care facilities during their infectious period which is for five days after the onset of swelling.
Mumps is a very infectious acute viral disease and symptoms include fever, headache, muscle aches, tiredness and loss of appetite followed by swelling of salivary and sometimes other glands. Anyone who suspects they have mumps should telephone their GP for advice before visiting.
For more information go to https://www.hse.ie/eng/health/immunisation/whoweare/requestrecord.html.
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