Ireland: Limerick Mumps Outbreak

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Source: http://www.limerickleader.ie/news/Ma...ick.3965435.jp


Major mumps scare in Limerick
By Eugene Phelan
Last Updated: 09 April 2008 4:11 PM

THE HSE this Wednesday afternoon warned the public of a mumps scare with 18 cases of the infection reported.

"Over the last few weeks, the Department of Public Health in Limerick has been notified of 18 cases of mumps across the Mid-West area with over half of these among students at the University of Limerick," a HSE spokesman said.

Students have been offered immunisation through the Student Health Service and GPs across the region have been alerted to the rise in incidence.

The HSE is advising students on the UL campus to ensure that they are protected against mumps.

This health scare has occurred in the same week in which a visiting ban was brought in at the Regional Hospital, Dooradoyle after eight cases of the winter vomiting were confirmed in four different wards.

A spokesman for the HSE said that exceptions to the visit
ing ban will only be made in cases where patients are seriously ill. The number of cases had dropped to six by this Wednesday.

Regarding the outbreak of mumps the HSE advised that students should have received two doses of the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine in the past ? this gives 99 per cent protection against mumps.

They should also have been immunised during the outbreak of mumps that occurred at the University of Limerick in March 2000 or already had clinical mumps.

"Individuals who are already immune in one of the ways listed above do not need to be vaccinated," the HSE stressed.

Students who think that they are not immune should attend the own General Practitioner or the Student Health Centre for this vaccine.

The symptoms of mumps include a low-grade fever and swelling or tenderness of one or more of the salivary glands in the cheeks under the jaw.

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Re: Ireland: Limerick Mumps Outbreak

Source: http://www.limerickpost.ie/dailynews...gory=Daily-Tue

Tue, 15/04/08
Mumps and measles alert

THE Department of Public Health in Limerick has recently been notified of 18 cases of mumps across the Mid-West area, with over half of these amongst students at the University of Limerick.

GPs in Limerick have been alerted to the increased cases, which comes at a time when Ireland has also been shown to have one of the worst records in Europe at fighting measles.

Low uptake of the MMR vaccination, which currently stands at 77 per cent, makes Ireland one of four countries named and shamed in a World Health Organisation Survey as having particularly low immunity to measles, mumps and rubella among adults and children.

In the University of Limerick, close contacts have been offered immunisation through the Student Health Service and GPs across the Mid-West have been put on the alert for symptoms. The HSE is advising students on the UL campus to ensure that they are protected against mumps unless they are already immune.

Immunity to mumps will result from having either received two doses of the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine in the past; been immunised during the outbreak of mumps that occurred at UL in March 2005, or already had clinical mumps.

According to a spokesperson from the HSE, most of those born since 1988 have had two doses of MMR.

"If people are definitely not immune or not certain, they should seek medical advice through their GP or Student Health Centre as to whether they need a dose of the MMR vaccine to protect them at this time. University staff who think that they are not immune have been advised to attend their own general practitioner for this vaccine," he advised.

Meanwhile, deputy Jan O'Sullivan, is calling for an urgent campaign to encourage parents to immunise their children, to prevent a measles epidemic.

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Re: Ireland: Limerick Mumps Outbreak

Source: http://www.irishhealth.com/?level=4&id=13573

Students warned about mumps outbreaks

[Posted: Tue 13/05/2008 by Deborah Condon]

At least seven outbreaks of mumps have already been recorded in third level colleges this year, the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) has warned. It is calling on all students to ensure that they have had two doses of the MMR vaccine.

Mumps is a contagious viral infection, which is most common in children over the age of two who have not been vaccinated and teenagers and young adults.

Mumps is spread via airborne droplets, i.e. when an infected person coughs or sneezes, or through direct contact with an infected person/contaminated items. Symptoms can include fever, headache and a swollen jaw or cheeks.

Complications are usually mild however serious complications can include meningitis, deafness and inflammation of the testicles, ovaries or pancreas.

The MMR vaccine is administered to babies aged 12-15 months. This is then followed by a booster shot when the child begins school at the age of four or five. A single dose of the vaccine prevents mumps in over 90% of immunised children. When the second booster shot is given, over 99% of immunised children are protected.

According to the HPSC, mumps has been on the increase since the beginning of 2008. Over 150 cases were reported in the first 16 weeks of this year alone, four of which required hospital admission. Most of these cases were in the 15-24 age group.

?This follows 150 cases in 2007, well down on 1,079 in 2005 which came after a nationwide outbreak that year. It appears that most of these cases caught mumps in third level colleges or secondary schools?, explained Dr Suzanne Cotter of the HPSC.

She advises students who are under the age of 25 and who have not been vaccinated or who have not had mumps to talk to their GP or student health service.

?MMR protects against measles, mumps and rubella and two doses are needed to protect against infection. Anyone who is not sure about their vaccination status needs to get another dose to be on the safe side?, Dr Cotter added.

The vaccine is administered free of charge as part of the Childhood Immunisation Programme. It is also free of charge to anyone else who wishes to obtain it, however an administration fee may apply for non-medical card holders.

For more on childhood vaccinations, see our Child Vaccination Tracker at? https://www.irishhealth.com/cvt/main.html