Halifax mumps outbreak widens

[Snowy Owl]

Halifax mumps outbreak widens
http://thechronicleherald.ca/Metro/613384.html

By KRISTEN LIPSCOMBE Staff Reporter
​

There are more mumps in the Halifax area.


Eight new cases of "chipmunk cheeks" have been confirmed by health officials, bringing the total to 32 since the outbreak began in mid-February.
"All physicians are required by law to report cases of mumps to public health," Dr. Gaynor Watson-Creed, medical officer of health for the Capital district health authority, said in a release Thursday.


"This notification process ensures we are aware of cases and can follow up to see who else may have been exposed or infected," she said.
It is the third such outbreak in Nova Scotia in three years. The health authority says mumps is caused by a virus and spread via nose and throat discharges, such as when someone coughs or speaks close to another person?s face.


Symptoms include fever and swollen and tender glands, but the incubation period averages 16 to 18 days and some people don?t have any symptoms.
"Public health officials continue to encourage people to see their family doctor if they have symptoms of mumps," the release said.


Although most people recover from mumps fairly quickly, those who become extremely ill may develop a brain infection, meningitis, arthritis, deafness, sterility and miscarriages.


Mumps cannot be treated, but those who are diagnosed should avoid school, camps, day cares and other group activities. The health authority says vaccination is still the best protection and toddlers should get the shot at age one.


Most people who have been infected in the recent outbreak are between 19 and 30, with some cases originating with Dalhousie University students, although not necessarily on campus. Dr. Watson-Creed has told The Canadian Press the disease seems to have spread through Halifax?s busy bar scene.


Last month, Dr. Watson-Creed said Nova Scotia generally has a strong resistance to mumps, thanks to years of immunization. The province usually only has a couple of cases a year.


Nova Scotia started giving measles-mumps-rubella vaccines in 1975 and added a second dose in 1996 for preschool-aged children. Many people born before a vaccine was developed had mumps as children and developed resistance to the virus.


Outbreaks in recent years have prompted debate over whether young adults who only received one dose as children should receive a booster shot.

 

[Niko]

Re: Halifax mumps outbreak widens

Maritimes mumps outbreak spreads to Ontario

Last Updated: Saturday, May 5, 2007 | 10:57 AM ET

CBC News


A stubborn outbreak of the mumps in Nova Scotia has now infected 203 people and appears to have spread to Central Canada, health officials say.
Ontario is reporting three confirmed cases ? in the Ottawa, York and Waterloo public health units ? which can be directly linked to the Nova Scotia outbreak. Five other suspected cases are under investigation.
As of Friday, New Brunswick reported 34 cases and Prince Edward Island had one confirmed case.


One of the hot spots this year has been Dalhousie University in Halifax, where the outbreak waned recently after students wrapped up exams and left campus.


Officials in Nova Scotia are considering a vaccination program for both university students and health-care workers, several of whom have become infected while caring for mumps cases.


Nova Scotia medical officials say they're calling on Ottawa's Public Health Agency for a national strategy to deal with such outbreaks, which are difficult to contain.

"I just think this needs to be co-ordinated from a national perspective and we are in ongoing discussions with the Public Health Agency [of Canada]," said Robert Strang, the Nova Scotia medical officer of health.

"Nova Scotia can lead in this because we're the one learning. We're on the front lines on this and other provinces can learn from us."
The agency's experts plan to review the case next month.


"There are a lot of things to be considered and the information from the outbreak itself will help in making those decisions for a national recommendation," said Jeannette Macey, an epidemiologist with the agency.


What is clear is that people born between 1970 and 1992 are most at risk. Most were immunized for the mumps, measles and rubella once, but for some it wasn't enough.


Catching the mumps can have serious consequences. The disease, which causes swollen and tender glands and other flu-like symptoms, can lead to sterility, deafness and viral meningitis.


It's spread by coughing, sneezing, sharing drinks and food, and kissing, and can be contagious for about seven days before symptoms appear, and up to nine days after.



http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/story/2007/05/05/mumps.html

 

[Treyfish]

Re: Halifax mumps outbreak widens

<TABLE class=lan18 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="95%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=lan18 vAlign=bottom align=middle height=30>Mumps outbreak expanding in Canada

</TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#ffffff height=4></TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#999999 height=2></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="50%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD height=5></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE class=hui12 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="95%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle>www.chinaview.cn

2007-05-06 05:31:16 </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="50%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD height=10></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE class=hui12 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="95%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle> </TD><TD class=lanx12 width=160>http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-05/06/content_6062187.htm#</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="50%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD height=10></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE class=lt14 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="93%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=lt14>



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</TD></TR><TR><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 12px">Mumps causes the glands near the ears to swell. (File Photo)

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE> OTTAWA, May 5 (Xinhua) -- An outbreak of the mumps that originated earlier this year is spreading quickly in Canada and has infected more than 200 people, local media reported Saturday.
The disease, which originated in eastern Nova Scotia province and has infected 203 people there, has spread to central provinces, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) said.
Ontario is reporting three confirmed cases with five other suspected cases under investigation. New Brunswick also has reported 34 cases and Prince Edward Island had one confirmed case.
Nova Scotia medical officials are calling on Ottawa's Public Health Agency for a national strategy to deal with the outbreaks.
Catching the mumps can have serious consequences. The disease, which causes swollen and tender glands and other flu-like symptoms, can lead to sterility, deafness and viral meningitis.
It is spread by coughing, sneezing, sharing drinks and food, and kissing, and can be contagious for about seven days before symptoms appear, and up to nine days after. :tiphat: 　

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http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-05/06/content_6062187.htm